View From The Middle

Now for a brief summary of each of the matches

Sidcup 27^th April 2008

Sidcup won the toss and decided to bat. On a day that was more conducive to bowling first, it probably meant that Sidcup were confident after their pre-season tour to the Balearics.

An impressive opening over from vice skipper Codd gave everyone the impression that he had taken his winter nets seriously. However, bowling down the slope from the Dover end, it was downhill from there in more ways than one. A combination of a slippery ball and early season nerves (??) meant that Neil and the other bowlers from that particular end produced deliveries that were more likely to do a mischief to the batsman’s head than his stumps.

Neil did manage to produce one pearler that took the off stump of the guy who normally carries the drinks for the Saturday 5^th XI, but that simply opened the door and the associated floodgates for Sidcup. In their innings, that was restricted to 35 overs because of the weather, they scored an impressive 250.

Debutants Jeremy Page and Bradley Hill bowled with determination, but Sidcup are probably not the easiest opposition to play against when you receive your Greenheath cap.

The chase was always going to be difficult and this was reinforced when Alex found that hitting the first ball of the season out of the ground was not going to happen again this year. Facing the second ball of the season would have to wait for another week!

Wickets fell with some regularity, although John Sawyer batted with his usual authority and Jeremy looked more like a batsman who can bowl a bit rather than vice versa. Coddy also looked in good nick and getting half way to the target for the loss of only 6 wickets was not such a bad result.

A loss for Shep in the first match. Will the skipper be able to cope with the pressure as he was only in charge of one defeat throughout 2007?