On a red hot day in Gravesend, Second team captain Andy Marshal won the toss and elected to bat on what looked like a belter of a wicket and a lightning outfield.

Marshall and Simpson strode to the wicket, Simpson hitting the first ball for 4, in fact his first 5 scoring shots were boundaries. Marshall edged to first slip with the score on 11, bringing Callum Morgan to the crease, Simpson and Morgan batted sensibly, punishing the bad ball and keeping a tight defence. With the score on 54 Morgan was cleaned up. Luke Palmer was next in and continued the attacking flare he’s becoming accustomed to, 4,6,6,4, dispatching the Gravesend spinners with some majestic power hitting. It was a surprise when Palmer fell for 21, tamely chipping the ball to mid-wicket, but at 85-3 and with Simpson still at the crease Broadstairs were well placed to produce a big score.

The Gravesend bowlers had other ideas however, Lewis Hewitt and Farjad Yasir falling quickly meant Broadstairs were 98-5. Simpson brought up his 50 but was unable to carry on, being caught on the boundary. Oli Frewin and Brad Ellison were now at the crease and with 17 overs still to go tried to consolidate. Padhiyar was brought into the attack, removing Frewin in his first over, Ellison in his second over and McCormick in his third over, Broadstairs hope of a big total had now slipped away and 125 had become the target to get at least 1 batting point. Masoud Rangin making his debut for the two’s obliged with a quick 14 before being caught, Broadstairs finishing on 128 in only 41.5 overs.

After an extended tea break that seemed to last forever, Broadstairs were eager to get out and end the humiliation one way or the other. Gravesend opener Sidhu took a liking to Ellison’s usually tight bowling, smashing him to all parts to take 35 from the seamers first 3 overs. Rangin opened up the other end and removed the home teams number 2 and 3, both excellently caught by McCormick at first slip. Marshall decided to keep Ellison on in the hope of picking up a couple of wickets, when Sidhu finally miscued one and Lewis Hewitt took the catch. At 52-3 Broadstairs started to believe they could get something from this game, Ellison and Hewitt then teamed up again to removed Singh. Farjad Yasir came on to replace Rangin and was back to form, bowling well at the panicked Gravesend batsmen and picking up another wicket.

Marshall kept Ellison going and when number 8 edged to McCormick at first slip and then McCormick himself picked up a wicket caught by wicket keeper Simpson, Broadstairs had surely turned a heavy defeat into an unlikely win. 116-8 and needing 13 to win, there was yet another slip catch, this time for Marshall and Ellison had claimed 5 wickets for the second week running and Gravesend still required 12 with only 1 wicket left. Crucially Hinks, the Gravesend captain was hanging around, Broadstairs dropping a tough chance early in his innings and Arif the number 11 managed to keep out Ellison’s last over, The batsmen chipped away until with 4 required Hinks took on Rangin and found the boundary.

Broadstairs were gutted, a game they should have lost, that somehow they had turned around and should have won. Brian Simpson being the only batsmen on the day to surpass 50 on what should have been a 200+ track. However the bowling and fielding from the second team was again excellent, once the batting line up starts firing properly they will be back in the promotion hunt.

Bond should be back for next week’s away game to Gore Court, but Simpson and Frewin are away. Broadstairs have slipped to fifth but are only 20 points behind second placed Old Wilsonians.