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HomeCRICKETHolmesdale bowlers demolish sorry Bromley

Holmesdale bowlers demolish sorry Bromley

Holmesdale 1st XI thrashed Bromley in the Kent Premier League with a completely dominant display on Saturday afternoon. 

Due to Friday’s rain, Holmesdale’s captain Luke Blackaby decided to bowl first when he won the toss in order to get as much out of the pitch as possible. Bromley have a top heavy batting order, with Clinton, Smith and Hickford, who are all capable of scoring match-winning knocks, batting at 1, 2 and 3. Therefore, Holmesdale set themselves the target of taking three wickets in the first ten overs. 

Blackaby thought he had struck in the first when Clinton hit the ball in the air through backward point only for the opportunity to be spurned. However, the disappointment didn’t last long as Thomas Masding had Clinton (2) caught by the returning David Roffey at mid-off in the 4th over. The next over, Blackaby bowled Smith (10) with a perfect inswinger, and then Hadfield (1) two balls later with an identical delivery. 

Suddenly, the score was 17-3 and all the pressure was on Hickford. But, he didn’t last long, one more ball in fact, as Masding had him well caught at slip by Ant Bissett for three. Bromley were reeling at 17-4, and the home side were determined not to let the visiting batsmen rebuild. The opening bowlers had time for one more wicket, as Masding (3-17) had Kent pro Qadri caught by Blackaby at short extra in his last over. 

James Poulsom (3-21) followed Blackaby from the bottom end and immediately got in on the act, trapping Wilson (16) and Jackson (6) LBW, and then bowling Ramanathan (0) with a beauty. Ben Fawcitt (1-17), following Masding down the hill, clean bowled Evans (6) and then Blackaby (3-23) returned to take the final wicket of Patel (7). Bromley had been bowled out for 89. A fantastic effort from the seam bowlers. 

The Holmesdale top order were determined not to give the Bromley attack a sniff when they came out to bat. Unlike last week, however, Will McDowell was not able to find the boundary with consummate ease, as he was caught for just six. Bissett and Luke Budden dug in against a hostile opening spell from the Bromley bowlers. 

Budden (7) was dubiously caught in the slips and the Holmesdale chase was delicately poised with the score at 27-2. However Bissett was resolute in defence and punished anything wide or short. Carlos Maynard added plenty of flourishes scoring 31 not out off 28 balls and the pair put on an unbroken stand of 56 for the third wicket, taking Holmesdale over the line in the 18th over. Bissett finished with a very good 40 not out from 55 deliveries.

It was a fantastic win for Holmesdale and moves them into 6th in the table, away from the drop zone and three points ahead of local rivals Sevenoaks Vine. Next week, Holmesdale travel to 9th placed Bickley Park, determined to keep the winning streak going and make it three from three. 

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