2's vs Tenterden

On a very hot day, the 2's made the trip to Tenterden to take on a side who have been in the promotion places for the majority of the season. As is the norm, captain Laurence Waters lost the toss and Tenterden chose to bat first.

The team got off to a terrific start, with Glen Aukett bowling former Motester Rob Sparks in the first over for 0. with the score on 13, young and old combined to dismiss the Tenterden captain as debutant Ollie Hills induced an edge to be taken by Nigel Mullarkey. In the last over before drinks, Glen Aukett bowled another batsmen to leave Tenterden 49-3 after 19 overs.

A perioed of resistance ensued as Tenterden decided to counter attack, especially against Ryan Ward who was causing many problems with his leg-spin. At this state The Mote did let things slip a little as the bowling was quite on the mark. However, persistance paid dividends as Ryan Ward induced an error from the Tenterden number 5, who was well caught at long-on by Pete Bowles. Ward struck soon after, finding the outside edge from a flashing drive to be excellent caught by Jason White who had just been moved to slip.

The 6th wicket partnership took the score to 154, whereupon the returning Glen Aukett took two wickets in an over to leave Tenterden struggling at 154-7. Again, The Mote let things slip and missed a couple okf chances and despite numerous swings and misses, the team couldn't make the breakthrough and Tenterden managed to scramble to 196-7. This was probably a par score, however on a wicket with prodigious turn, the task would always be a difficult one.

Jason White's good form didn't continue as he was dismissed with the score on 5. Gus Fordham came to the crease and looked comfortable against the Tenterden attack, until he hit an uppish drive to be well caught at backward point.

The inform Kraig Corke joined Aukett at the crease and the pair batted comfortably until the 18th over drinks break, with the score on 70. Aukett was removed immediately following the interval. Ryan Ward came in and smashed a quickfire 30 in partnership of 32 with Corke but ultimately took one risk too many and was brilliantly caught one-handed at mid-off. So whilst the scoring rate was good, the loss of wickets was starting to make the game tight and with Pete Bowles being caught shortly after, the game was in the balance at 118-5. Corke was bowled for 30 and Richard Gentry was LBW two balls later to leave the team really up against it at 124-7.

15 year old Ollie Hills joined his captain in the middle and batted sensibly and was extremely unfortunate to be bowled off his pads. The Mote were now 146-8. Nigel Mullarkey came to the wicket and supported Laurence Waters brilliantly to allow the runs to be ticked down. The longer the partnership ensued and the target got nearer, the pressure shifted from the batsmen to the bowlers and bad balls started to be bowled which in the main were punished.

Mullarkey and Waters got the target down to 12 from 2 overs - the 1st and 6th balls of that over both went for 4, leaving just 4 required from the final over, with Mullarkey on strike. A dot from the first ball was followed by a single, with a 2 coming from the next ball to bring the scores level. The 4th ball was a dot, but with all the fielders in the circle, Waters hit the 5th ball over the top for 4 to secure a fantastic win. At one point the team were staring defeat in the face, but the 9th wicket partnership was worth 53 and goes to show that sometimes age and experience is far more valuable than being able to run quickly between the wickets.

So good performances all-round, with Glen Aukett taking 4-39 from 15 overs, Ryan Ward 2-54 from 15 overs and young Ollie Hills taking 1-31 from his eleven overs.

Next week the team face table-topping Folkestone at The Mote.