Tonbridge go back to back
Tonbridge CC 1st XI – 230 All Out
Offham CC 1st XI – 122 All Out
Tonbridge made it two wins from two after a convincing victory against Offham last weekend.
After winning the toss, Tonbridge skipper Mike Jessop elected to bat at Poplar Meadow, and his openers certainly ratified that decision. Chirag Patel (34) and Julius Marshall (25) both came flying out of the blocks, hitting regular boundaries, and putting the visiting opening attack under immediate pressure. Patel in fact got off the mark with a six, followed by one more for good measure. In the past Tonbridge have been plagued by losing wickets in bunches, and this game would be no different, as Marshall, Patel, and overseas Ollie Peake would all fall within seven balls, taking the score from 67 without wicket to 67 for 3. Siddharth Shaw (2 for 29) would be the main beneficiary of this cluster of wickets.
Needing to settle things down, Martin Snow and Steve Hall would get the innings back on track. Combining well for singles, and being clinical against the bad balls, the two players would bat together for just over 20 overs and add over 100 runs to the Tonbridge total. The partnership was only broken due to Hall unfortunately top edging the ball into his face, but he would return later on. The introduction of Ben Herron into the attack would prove to be a good one for Offham, as he first dismissed Snow for a well-played 47, and also captain Jessop for 11. Mark Burns hit some lusty blows in a rapid 24 but would become another victim of Herron who finished with figures of 5 for 36. Hall returned at the end but was stranded on 32 not out as the innings ended on 230.
Offham got off to a flying start as well, but with the score on 37, they would lose two wickets in three balls. The visiting captain Tom Miller was the first to go, dismissed courtesy of a stunning one-handed catch at point by Martin Snow, and then a Khurram Shehzad run out would put a serious dent in the run chase. When the same player took a sharp catch at slip soon after off the bowling of brother Nadeem Shehzad (2 for 20), the score sat on 45 for 3. Tom Evans (22) and David Sibley (17) would provide the counter punch but fell victim to Khurram (3 for 10). Harry Legg hit a blistering 31, but wickets would fall around him. Ben Peters introduction would see the same to its conclusion as he took four of the last five wickets, and end with amazing figures of 4 for 9. Offham were finally bowled out for 122, giving Tonbridge the win by 108 runs.
They travel to Borstal this weekend hoping to continue their fine start to the season.