Bishopsbourne

Match Report

For the second week in a row Parisian tourist, James Grant, found himself at the wicket early following a Straggler golden duck at Bishopsbourne. He continued in much the same vein as at Sandwich, but fell just short of his half century. Indeed falling just short of 50 was the order of the day, as Jamie Lavers, Nigel Snape and Theo Allport all got close, but managed to get out regularly enough to keep the opposition in the hunt. At 27 Nigel scored his 5,000th run for the Stragglers in a career of over 30 years. That the Stragglers managed to reach 218 for 9, and set a target was in large part due to an urgent partnership between Jamie and Theo, who put on over 60 in 6 overs.

Jonathan Neame, promoted to open the bowling, appealed himself into an unsuccessful frenzy, as the first wicket proved elusive. However, a second itinerant Parisian Straggler, Jonathan Riches, revelling in the grip afforded by grass (as opposed to Astroturf) immediately induced a false stroke, held on the boundary by Jamie Lavers. Three more excellent catches in the deep by the Master Brewer and James Grant (2), and a stunning return absorbed into the midriff, took Jonathan to 7 for 25 in 10 overs, the best Straggler return for many years. A junior number 10 came out to play his shots, and took an immediate fancy to Hugo Snape’s left arm spin, before holing out with the total at 167.