On a gloomy and blustery day at Kemsing, home skipper Grahame Wood won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first on a hard, dry strip against Horsmonden. The batting order was tweaked, to provide opportunity to some who had not had much time at the crease this season, but this plan was scuppered by James Walkling!
After last week’s 80 off 33 balls, Walkling battered 177 off 99 balls, with a considerably bigger boundary! He and Jake Wood put on 229 for the first wicket in 31 overs, before Jake was out for a well-crafted 60. James was eventually out in the 37th over, having hit 23 fours and 6 sixes!
Horsmonden’s bowlers actually performed very well, with many youngsters in the side, as the score could have been much higher! The fielding was very good and their heads never dropped.
Without being cruel, there was no chance of a surprise win, so it was an opportunity for Kemsing to give some bowlers the opportunity to bowl more than usual. However, due to the great technique and application of the Horsmonden youngsters on an excellent track, it was not easy to take wickets, even though there was a sudden need for this, when the weather deteriorated suddenly and rain looked imminent! Being rained off was an unacceptable option… Happily, things improved soon afterwards and it became sunny!
16 year-old Nizam bowled two excellent spells, and was unlucky to only take one wicket. Ian Wise was his usual miserly self, with 7 overs for 8 runs. League leading wicket-taker Roger Shaddock chipped in with 4 more victims and strike bowler, Stuart Barnes took 2 in 2 balls in a brief spell when the weather threatened. Harry Cottle added 2 more and the crowd were treated to the rare sight of Wood Junior bowling a couple of quite decent overs at the end!
Horsmonden can be proud of the way they played and both teams went home happy with the performance of their players. Another game played in great spirit, epitomising the ethos of the Kent County Village League.
