09/09/2001 v LEEDS AND BROOMFIELD

Won

Steve went for 20, and Neil came in chomping at the bit. Unfortunately he was out for a duck. Clive meanwhile had progessed to his first fifty of the season on the way to 83. Andrew Cruickshank hit some terrific blows into the field next door, and was unfortunate to be caught out going for a six to the long boundary, This was a brilliant catch by the oppositon skipper- the best I have seen for years. Old Dartechs reached 240 for the second time this season just in time for tea. (Highly rated by Adam!)

Richard and Tony opened the bowling and a few quick wickets fell. It was Priddy however who turned in the best bowling performance, including a brilliant ball to get rid of Tharp- who looked as if he might just be able to keep Leeds up with the run rate. Just as Old D's were poised to notch up the second victory of the season, Tony Day got his studs caught in the turf trying to cut off a boundary. The last throws of the season were thus spent keeping Tony company as he lain prone at mid on waiting for an ambulance to attend his obvioulsy broken ankle.

The opposition were quick to remove the stumps, however we are claiming this as a victory on the Duckworth Lewis method - applying the little used rule, that if a team has won naff all since May, then they are the beneficaries of abandonments due to leg fractures. (I stilll say we could have played on , Tony was lying just behind the bowler and was unlikely to be hit. The ambulance could have come on between overs.)

Still- I'm sure as we all sat round Tony on the grass watching the sun sink over Leeds Castle and at the same time setting the seal over a rather disappointing season, thoughts were already turning to next April when hopefully we we will all be fit again. Either that or they were thinking about getting down the Pub as soon as possible..

******************** An even sadder postscript to this match was the staggering news tha Andrew Cruickshank died in a car crash on Monday 22nd April 2002, and therefore this was his last game - he will be sorely missed. Andrew had e-mailed me to ask me when this match report would be posted on the web-- he was extremely proud of those towering sixes. ********************