Sissinghurst 2nd XI 2019 Season Update – 18 July 2019
We are just over half way through the league season, so below is a brief recap of the trials and tribulations of the past 10 weeks.
We begun our campaign on the 11th May at a very soggy Southborough CC 2’s, the heavens had opened during the morning and as we arrived the Southborough super sopper was trundling up and down the covers. Both skippers agreed on a 30 over 
game as the weather still looked dodgy, we won the toss and bowled, sniffing out bowling bonus points if the weather intervened. Micky Winner excelled with 5 for 14, and miserly spells from Foundy & CJ tied the oppo in knots and they subsided to 69 all out. Highlight of the fielding was Tony Reader asking the skipper to give him a shout if the ball was coming towards him at mid on, it duly did next ball at 100mph and he caught it in front of his face! The skipper & Brownie saw us home without losing a wicket with 10 overs to spare, and we were in the Hand & Sceptre before 7pm……lovely!
Next up was Knockholt CC, we won the toss and Percy Christopherson made the most of it, smacking a very good 116. Nathan bagged the first duck of the season, and some late hitting by CJ and Foundy sped us to 248 for 6 from our 40 overs. Tony starred with the ball with 3 for 18 to begin with and we strangled their reply, with Chairman Pete also taking 2 for 29 as they finished 56 runs short, another 20 points in the bag.
Shipbourne 2’s away followed, and we were inserted, the skipper being caught by a reaction catch at gully in the first over and witnessing Tim Bentall smiling for the first time. On a tough wicket to bat on, most got starts with a crucial partnership between Micky 32 & Chairman Pete 31 propelling us up to 163 all out. Hillsy running RFB out off the last ball. Foundy opened the bowling with a hostile spell taking 3 for 21, with Micky taking 2 for 16 in another miserly spell. CJ finishing things off with 2 for 2 bowling out children as we won by 46 runs.
With the skipper missing, Phil took charge with a host of team changes against Sennocke which did not turn the tide. CJ bowled another economical spell of 0 for 25, and the debutant Arthur Elliot straight from the U13’s took 1 for 29 as Sennocke finished up 200 for 3 after 40 overs. In reply Elliot Snr hit 61, Percy 37, AK a nice little 39no. and a guest appearance by Mr Tom Allen 36 (runs not age!!!) got us to the target with 10 balls to spare.
Then the wheels fell off! Off to Cudham Wyse 2’s, and the thunder, lightning and driving rain on the way abated as we arrived. Unfortunately only half the wicket was covered, and on what resembled a panda we played a 35 over game. We won the toss and fielded unsurprisingly, Micky taking another 2 for 15 including a slip catch that nearly took the skippers head off, Brownie taking 1 for 25 as we let slip a good start and found ourselves chasing 163 to win. We got stuffed, 91 all out after 29 overs, Nick Hinves top scoring with 23.
Limpsfield Chart 2’s at home the following week, and it was one that got away. They finished up 214 for 6, Brownie taking 3 for 58 with Foundy and CJ bowling tightly. We were bowled out for 195 in 36 overs, some really poor decision making and not batting our overs out cost us. Richard Staines making 48, and a couple of 20’s for Palace & CJ.
On to Fordcombe CC on the 22 June, we arrived at the ground to see the 30 yard circle being mowed, and the outfield with wisps of grass several inches long. The skipper won the toss and batted and we were 5 for 3 after six or seven overs. Micky hit 24 and looked really good before holing out to long on and regretting it straight away, Nathan & ben Reader led a rearguard action which got us to 119 missing out on the holy batting point. Nath finishing 27 not out, despite being caught at deep square leg by a fielder who brushed the long grass beyond the boundary whilst taking the catch. Fortunately, half the side was ensconced on a bench on the far side of the ground and pointed it out. In reply inside edges were going everywhere and we worked hard, Brownie taking 4 for 34, Micky 1 for 17 as they finished up 120 for 8 after 38 overs…a close one but a loss nonetheless.
A home game with Chevening Amblers followed on a horribly hot and sultry afternoon. With Foundy now first team material, Masters made his second team debut for the season taking 4 for 65, most runs coming off his last two overs, a mistake by the skipper. They made 203 for 7. The skipper and Brownie started proceedings after 40 over in the blistering heat, unfortunately fitness is not a talent within Sissinghurst 2’s and whilst both scored 52, we were behind the rate and despite CJ making a rapid 34 we finished up on 182 for 5, another one that got away.
We then tramped up to the beautiful Stonewall Park for game v Bidborough 3’s, a good bunch of lads who many of us have played against many times over the years. We won the toss again on a variable wicket, which did not concern the skipper too much after being run out in the second over. Percy 60 & AK 23 got us up to a respectable score of 158 for 6. Again we had no luck whatsoever, Micky bowling his 9 overs for 12 runs but no wickets, Neal dropped down from the 1’s and bowled well at the death taking 3 for 28, but they sneaked in with 3 balls to spare finishing 159 for 5.
So we move to last week, the second round of fixtures starting with Southborough pitching up at the King George V Field. On an unusually dead wicket at the hurst, we struggled to get going, AK 37, Percy 26, the skipper 24 and Chairman Pete top scoring with 39no. as we finished on 165 for 6. It came at a cost, as AK and Chairman Pete were rendered immobile for the rest of the game and fielding became pretty challenging! Southborough got off to a good start but once we removed the openers we began to reel them back in, Micky was miserly again, Brownie & Nathan taking a couple of wickets, and the skipper getting out the golden arm for the first time this season also bagging 2 wickets. They needed 7 off the last over to win, with a contentious wide given midway through the over it turned out to be the difference, as the field was brought up for the last ball and it disappeared over mid on for four. Another really close game but enjoyable all the same after the disappointment fades.
Going forward, the 2’s should be for development and young lads that make themselves available will be picked in front of the older players. With that in mind, if we are relegated then so be it, but we have won 4 and lost 6, out of those 6 defeats only one of them has been by a big margin. We remain a happy ship and look forward to the final 8 games of the league season and are determined to put some more points on the board.