Darts return to winning ways

Darts return to winning ways
Dartford CC 1st XI vs Orpington 1st X1
Result – Dartford win batting first by 35 runs
Links – scorecard and league table

The Darts took the maximum 20 points after winning the toss and electing to bat at Hesketh Park. Openers Dassrath and Cook started steadily reaching 37 before Dassrath (22) was dismissed. Jim Lowrie joined Cookie at the crease and the two top order left handers built a solid 67 run partnership for the second wicket. Cookie (43) was run out after a mix up leaving the score on 104-2, and the middle order then stuttered a little with Ron Turner (6), Mark Lewis-Ranwell (16) and Lowrie (48) departing to leave the score on 151-5. Adam Clarke (36*) and Randy Rampersad (27*) batted well to pile on 54 runs for the sixth wicket and take the Darts total to 205-5 at tea.

Orpington’s hopes of reaching the total were dented early on as aussie Brinn Osland (2-57) and Adam Clarke (5-51) took two wickets apiece to rip out the top order and leave the visitors on 39-4. Sterling (18) joined Shaw at the crease and offered some resistance for the fifth wicket, but when he fell at 83-5 to spinner Mark Collier (3-27), another cluster of wickets followed to leave the score 97-7 in the 26th over. Orpington still had 24 overs remaining and were up with the run rate, but with only 3 wickets reminaing Shaw (76) decided to accelerate the scoring and started finding the boundary regularly. With the score on 159-7 Shaw then fell to a brilliant low one handed caught and bowled by Clarke to turn the game once again in the Darts favour after a 62 run eighth wicket partnership. Clarke then wrapped up the win with the last two wickets to seal all 20 points. Next up is Cartford & Cyphers at home.

2s stay top of the league
Sandwich Town CC 2nd XI vs Dartford CC 2nd XI
Result – Dartford winning draw
Links – scorecard and league table

The 2nd XI took the long trip down to Sandwich this week having let their grip on the top spot loosen somewhat, following last weeks home defeat. Knowing that they needed to recapture their early season form, Dartford’s skipper Kevin Webb won the toss and chose to bat on a surprisingly warm and sunny day.

Webby and Sunny Birring, both having enjoyed good starts to their respective campaigns, opened the batting and were watchful during the opening overs as the Sandwich bowlers Bolt & Bradley bowled tidily. Before he could settle himself in for the afternoon, Webby was out caught behind for 2. Gregg Dassrath joined Sunny in the middle, however the pair were under pressure from both ends, which soon lead to the latter being dismissed for just 3. Macca came out as Dartford were reeling early on, after a brief discussion between the two of them, he and Gregg set about putting some runs on the board. Both batsman pierced and cleared the inner field with some blistering cuts.

Sandwich brought the changes, opting for spin at both ends. Before long, Macca played one shot too many, finding the fielder in the deep at mid-wicket for 20. Nosey Parker, so often the go-to-guy in the past, strode out and began bludgeoning the ball to the delight of those waiting on the sidelines. Unfortunately, yet another wicket fell just as they seemed to be digging in for the long-haul, Gregg out caught for 19. Following some impressive all-round performances of late, Mark Baker was promoted to 6. Both he and Nosey seemingly taking turns to hit some lusty blows. A brief but entertaining passage of play was ended when both batsmen were out in their 20s, Bakes bowled by Amos for 25 and Nosey chopping on to the same bowler for a well made 29.

At this point, DCC were looking at the scoreboard in horror, having lost their top 6 before the 100 was up. To make matters worse, Earl was adjudged LBW to Amos for 11 and Pavan Bali holed out for 4 – DCC 119 for 8… Craig Partridge walked out to join Dan Supple, both knowing that they had to steady the ship and help their side to a competitive score. Perhaps lady luck had taken pity on them, as CP was dropped second ball in the slips. During the next 12 overs, both Supps and CP played the ball on merit – CP took to the bowling of Amos, hitting a couple of boundaries over the top; Supps (to quote Cully) played “the shot of the match” as he dispatched a full delivery from Bradley off his legs for 4. When the innings finally closed Supps (27*) and CP (19*) had put on 49 for the 9th wicket and dragged Dartford on to 168 for 8 off of their 50 overs.

Before they began their defence of what appeared to be a substandard total, the team got together on the field for a much needed team talk. Webby, along with vice-skip Nosey, attempted to instil belief in the players that they could pull off something from this game. This must have done the trick, as CP and Cully opened the bowling, hitting their straps from ball one. Both bowlers continually beat the batsmen all ends-up and it seemed only a matter of time before they would make inroads.

CP took the honours, bowling the no.2 Fagg with an absolute jaffer for 14, he then almost repeated the feat the very next delivery, only to see the ball miss the off-stump by a whisker. Soon though he bagged another as the no.3 Burgess (3) chopped on to a ball that jagged back into his body. Cully, not wanting to be outdone, snagged the opener Blackman with his “stock delivery”, ct Sunny at mid-wicket for 16. Jones (ct&b Cully) and Bolt (b CP) didn’t hang around for long and the Darts were now sensing an unlikely victory. Both bowlers were unlucky not to finish with further wickets, as they completed their marathon 15 over spells to leave Sandwich 58 for 5!

Macca and Sunny came on to try and keep the momentum, and surely enough Macca took the wickets of Jarvis (2) and with his next ball Amos (0). The Sandwich skipper Beaumont appeared very fortunate not to be given out LBW, again to Macca. Having survived the shouts he continued on as he looked to save his side that had capitulated to 100 for 7. Webby then chose to bring on Earl and Bakes to finish out the overs, in the hope that they could make the needed breakthrough. Earl finally ended the stand of Beaumont and Cook, taking a tough c&b chance off the previous – Beaumont walking off with a composed and somewhat defensive display of 43. A few close deliveries from both bowlers could not bring any further success, as Sandwich doggedly saw out the final few balls to end on 133 for 8.

DCC Bowling Figures:

CP 15 – 6 – 21 – 3
Cully 15 – 6 – 31 – 2
Sunny 7 – 0 -21 – 0
Macca 8 – 1 – 32 – 2
Bakes 3 – 0 – 12 – 0
Earl 2 – 0 – 7 – 1

A decent result given the way the game panned out. Onwards and upwards to St Lawrence next week!!!

3s go fourth after Captain Fitzy’s king knock
Dartford CC 3rd XI vs Bexley Park 1st XI
Result – Dartford win by 7 wickets
Links – scorecard and league table

With Skipper Rusty Cartwright away, Vice Captain James Fitzgerald put in a Captain’s innings of 84 not out to help the Darts to a resounding win at Waller Park. Bexley Park won the toss and elected to bat on a damp pitch, a decision we suspect was influenced by half the team still en route to the ground! Callum Lucking (1-41) continued his fine start to his Dartford career by removing the opener caught behind by an excellent low diving catch by 3rd team debutant keeper Harry Bell. Rishan Gamage joined in on the wickets from the other end after a couple of loose balls were dispatched and Bexley Park were soon two wickets down early on. Foster came to the crease and started ‘swinging the bat’ and raced to 35 before holing out to Farmer on the long on boundary off Craney. Tresco’s good form was continuing after his 5 wicket haul the week before, picking up 3-41 to remove the Bexley Park middle order. Some late order hitting saw the innings close on 184-8 off 40 overs with Hirschy the pick of the bowlers with 2-29 off his 10 overs (he saw middle stump cartwheel out of the ground which was more to do with them being put in loosly!).

The clouds started to disappear during tea allowing the Waller Park pitch to dry out. The Darts were eying up a second consecutive win but lost Farmer LBW without scoring in the second over. Lewis Knight joined Fitzy at the crease and the pair began building an impressive partnership with runs coming all round the wicket. DCC were soon ahead of the rate and both batsmen were well set and batting comfortably. Knighty passed his 50 (get your jug in at the bar matey!) despite hobbling around complaining of a broken toe for half of his knock, but was out for 51 stumped by the keeper standing back! Fitzy (84*) continued his king knock with assistance from Craney (17) and Amir Ali (13*) to guide the Darts home by batting through the innings to seal a 7 wicket win. The only downside to his day was losing his car betting on Farms dropping the catch at long on! Next up is Blackheath 5ths away.

4s stay third despite losing close game
Bexley Park 2nd XI vs Dartford CC 4th XI
Result – Bexley Park win
Links – scorecard and league table

Match report to follow.