This weekend Australia played a touring game at Canterbury v England Lions. They rested Brad Haddin, Phil Hughes and Michael Clark. To ensure they were in tip top condition for the Oval next week they decided to assist Ashdown Forest in giving us a right royal thumping! 

It transpires that Ashdown are peeved that we keep beating them year in year out and decided to recruit some ringers and show us what for!   

Having won the toss Ashdown batted first and proceeded to smack anything short, wide and loose to the boundary. So basically most balls left the confines of the ground.

After 5 overs 50 odd on the board for no loss. M. Fellows struggled to find any form and Buckle although picked up the first wicket was also spanked. 

J. Fellows who was given the gloves was quickly relieved by Bailey and joined Brinky in an attempt to slow down the rapid run rate. 

The run fest was brought slowly to a halt with J. Fellows picking up one wicket and Brinky picking up 2 of the Australians. (This has to be a first in Sunday Afternoon Cricket for the Club?)

The Director of Cricket had informed me before the game that he reckoned that Hall was a superb leg spinner and should be given a chance in the game, so on he came. Plenty of turn and collected one wicket. Definite potential. However, at the end I informed D.o.C. who stated he was surprised he bowled that well and got turn as he was crap in the nets?  

S. Fitz had a lengthy spell from the bottom end with decent figures of 1 for 24. Barrett and T. Fitz also chipped in but alas no joy. Finally Buckle and M. Fellows returned to take the proceedings to tea. Buckle salvaged his figures with a total of 3 wickets and M.Fellows one. 

6 catches were taken in total, Spiller and T. Fitz one a piece on the boundary, Bailey at mid-off and as keeper off Buckle. But Hall took 2 stunner's, one at point diving low off Buckle then at square leg, a real Marcus North special (Those Australians again) plucking a ball from mid air one handed. There could of been a seventh but the skipper dropped a regulation sitter at first slip?  J. Fellows also took a nice catch but unfortunately was 5 yards behind the boundary rope at the time!

Ashdown batted with leisure and made the most of some pretty dull bowling finishing on a challenging score of 232 for 9 at tea.

A make your own tea was provided by the Fitz brothers (very nice) but not a Brinky Special. Sam did a good job of clearing the Kitchen etc afterwards.

WG then batted, Spiller and T. Fitz opened, very well, putting on a stand of 46 before Spiller fell for 12 to a miss hit back to mid on. An excellent start and up with the run rate. As a result on came the Aussie's, Forest were out to win at all costs.

T. Fitz made an excellent 33 which included 3 fours in 3 balls. J. Fellows went in at 3 and caused controversy when he edged the ball to slip who claimed a catch. But both Umpires were unsure it carried so was J. Fellows so a debate took place and was resolved by J. Fellows evoking enough doubt and continued batting. 

Brinky made a brief appearance and only made a quick 9, Hall was put in at 5 as he has shown so much promise with the bat and failed with 2. 

The Skipper finally found some form, looked comfortable, middling the ball and hit 15 before being caught on the long on boundary. J.Fellows did the same for 31.

S. Fitz the all rounder he is, managed a breezy 19 and Buckle followed suit like the earlier batsmen getting caught going for a biggy for 8.

Bailey suffering from bruised fingers only scored one so it was left to Barrett and M.Fellows to play out the last 3 or 4 remaining overs to salvage a draw. However, that plan failed miserably as M. Fellows was out first ball. Barrett carried his bat with 2 not out and WG perished with a lousy total of 137.

Lord T