24/07/1999 v SWANSCOMBE AND GREENHITHE

won

Clive and Steve Lawton made a confident start despite some accurate inswinging bowling from the top end. Steve once again hit some quality shots but was unluckily given out to a ball bowled above waist height which he deflected onto his stumps. Once Steve was back in the Pavilion there was a rather belated discussion about whether it ought to have been called no ball! Andrew Steene came to the wicket and Old Dartechs were soon cruising along at around five an over as rather surprisingly the main bowlers were taken off. Swanscombe posted some deep fielders and some crashing shots were only earning one or two but there were enough boundaries and short singles (when Jock had enough puff!) to keep the run rate up.

Andrew and Clive made it through to the drinks interval but Jock perished soon after as the charged down the wicket to the leg spinner.

Tony came to the crease in the midst of a dreadful trot ( by his standards) but this was an ideal situation to play himself into some form and this he duly did. Swanscombe never really worked out that Clive was only hitting the ball square or behind square and persisted in men deep on the long on and off boundaries (as if I can hit it that far!) and his first fifty of the season was there for the taking.

Clive and Tony were working towards a target off 250 and this was only put in doubt after the loss of Clive for 71 and the re-introduction of the openers. By this time however Tony was back to his best and he hit some memorable shots over long on for 6 on his way to a belligerent 81. Neil came in and gave him good support but Paul Allen sent in as a "pinch" hitter only succeeded in hitting his first ball safely to the keeper. Swanscombe were glad to come off the field after Old Dartechs had scored 237 for 6.

This is the second highest score in the Clubs history surpassed only by the 252 amassed against Morbid Path in Dulwich (1992) when even our illustrious Chairman scored a fifty against some rather ordinary bowling (sorry John!). After a leisurely and well received tea (Skipper though it the best of the year but was it really as good as the Strawberry flan at Leeds and Broomfield?)

Andrew Cruickshank opened up with Tony Day. A couple of snicks to third man and one punishing straight drive off Andrew meant that Swanscombe almost kept up 5 an over for the first ten overs.

Martin then made a brave decision to introduce spin and Paul Allen and Steve Lawton came on. The Swanscombe opener groaned when he heard that Steve was to bowl left arm over- apparently he does not like them and amazingly he chipped Steve's first ball to Jonathan who held another safe catch at square leg. Steve was later to try to persuade Jonathan that five catches in one season at square leg meant a jug but the treasurer wasn't having any of it. Admirably Swanscombe were letting their youngsters have a bat even though it meant they fell a little behind the asking rate. Paul was bowling tightly keeping the ball low and fast without trying to spin the ball too much.

The outfielding was safe and Paul also excelled himself in this department demonstrating terrific pace across the turf turning twos into ones. Richard Coverly had a brief spell but this was not really the pitch for his medium pacers and he gave way to a second spell from Andrew Cruickshank. Andrew put in a fiery burst which did much to slow Swanscombe still further and he picked up a late wicket which was well deserved.

Neil Priddy also held up well facing a withering assault from Swanscombes best batsman but even he was unable to score at more than ten an over during the last phase of the match and in the end Old Dartechs scored a comfortable win. Martin was asked why he didn't bowl himself and replied that he didn't want to make his seasons figures any worse however he did pick up a couple of good catches and was looking for a third to earn his cap! This was a really marvellous win and did much to restore morale