14th May 2005: 1st XI v Whitgift

Saturday 14th May 2005

55 Overs

Tonbridge Innings

HowesonBowledHaden-Clarke8
McDonaldCt. GrantHaden-Clarke8OMRW
ShalesCt. FielderHaden-Clarke0McEwan92170
HowickCt. GrantEdwards2Haden-Clarke80364
MakepeaceStumpedWinslade32Edwards6.10212
MiddletonCt. SpriegalFielder21Spriegal91352
HammondCt. EdwardsSpriegal44Winslade112211
DurellBowledHaden-Clarke34Fielder50171
HillStumpedSpriegal2Ratnayake31110
BuggéCt.McEwanEdwards0
BottingNotOut0
Extras13
165 All Out (51.1 Overs)

Whitgift Innings

OMRW
SpriegalCt. ShalesHowick5Howick82352
RatnayakeNotOut87Hammond40180
WinsladeCt. MakepeaceHowick5Botting60170
GrantNotOut67Howeson70260
Extras5Durell70360
McDonald20220
Buggé10130
169 for 2 (35 Overs)

Tonbridge lost by 8 wickets

Tonbridge lost the toss and were put into bat on an excellent batting track. McDonald was promoted to open the batting with Howeson. Buggé made it back into the side to replace Whitehead. The team was otherwise unchanged from the side that played Charterhouse last week.

We needed the top order batsmen to get off to a good start and they had been training hard all week to do this. Unfortunately things did not go according to plan. Two good balls accounted for McDonald and Howeson and two rather unlucky dismissals (Shales excellently caught and Howick 'strangled' down leg side) and suddenly we were 21 for 4 with a lot of work to do. Makepeace and Middleton came together at this stage to put together a healthy partnership of 55 runs. They both batted well. However, just when we were establishing a bit of momentum, they both got themselves out. This brought Hammond and Durell together at 76 for 6. These two batted very well indeed, cautious to start with, but once settled they both struck the ball excellently and put away the loose ball. The highlight being three powerful straight sixes that Hammond struck. They took the total to 160 for 6 in the 49th over, but just when we thought 200 was a possibility, we lost our final 4 wickets for 5 runs. This was a disappointing end to a very good batting recovery.

We needed quick wickets to create any pressure on the Whitgift run chase and the captain once again delivered. Howick took two quick wickets, narrowly missing a third, to create the pressure we needed. Unfortunately, Whitfigt's third wicket partnership displayed great batting skill. They were patient and once getting themselves in, they punished anything slightly loose. Alex Botting bowled very well, but had no joy on this good batting track. This was a disappointing loss, but we were always going to struggle after the start we had.