Darts run chase frustrated by the rain

Darts victory chase held up by the rain
Dartford CC 1st XI vs Holmesdale CC 1st XI
Result – Incomplete – scorecard

Dartford were left frustrated by the rain in pursuit of a third consecutive win on wet day at Hesketh Park. Darts won the toss and invited Holmesdale to bat first, a decision which was promptly rewarded when Sam Jewiss (3-30) and Brinn Osland (3-42) ripped apart the top order to leave the visitors 25-5. After a long rain break play resumed and Stuart Brown (75) and David Roffey (41) rebuilt the innings with a sixth wicket partnership of 122. Ross Allen removed Brown thanks to a smart stumping from Ross Hallam, and went on to wrap up the tail to finish with figures of 3-41 bowling Holmesdale out for 160 in 41 overs.

Due to the amount of time lost earlier in the game, the Darts were faced with a run chase up against the clock in gloomy overcast conditions with 20 overs starting at 7:30pm. After an opening partnership of 34, the Darts lost regular wickets in search of the quick runs required and were 86-7 when Mark Collyer (20no) joined Ross Hallam (21) at the crease. The pair produced an excellent partnership taking the Darts to 134 when Hallam fell at the beginning of the last over permitted with 27 runs required for the outright win. An additional 10 minutes or couple of overs would have seen the Darts complete a third consecutive win, but the weather meant the game finished incomplete.

Darts 2nd XI stay top
Holmesdale CC 2nd XI vs Dartford CC 2nd XI
Result – DCC Winning Draw – scorecard

After waiting for the rain to stop we finally started at 3.20pm in a reduced overs games (60 overs). After losing the toss and being asked to bat first we were unsure as what would be a good total to post and decided to bat the first 10 as normal then bat as though it was a 20/20. Murph and Webby went out to open and found there to be alot of bounce in the wicket something we are not used to! After playing out the 1st over for a maiden Webby decided to try to push on and hit 2 boundaries in the next over before being caught for 9. In form Sunny then came to the wicket and found the new ball just as tough before being run out for 14 trying to nick another run from a direct hit at the other end – Sunny you forgot to say IN. Shortly after Murph was out LBW for 9 leaving us 43-3 when we came off for another short shower, after which we were in desperate need of a good partnership and with the experience of Macca (44) and Nosey(39) they gave us that with good shot selection and patience putting on nearly 100 for the next wicket. After looking dodgy at 43-3 we were now in control and looking for over 160 with Ferris (28) Randy (19no) putting together a good stand we ended with 186-6 off our 30 overs.

After a quick tea we were back out ready to go and couldn’t of asked for a better start with Craig Partridge trapping their opener LBW in the first over. Then it was the experienced Cully to get the leading run scorer in the league out first ball of his spell with the worst delivery you are ever like to see – a rank long hop which he hit straight to point! After that Cully produced the kind of ball we were looking for getting the number 4 first ball caught behind. So it was back to Craig in his second over tempting their overseas into a waft outside off stump and being well caught at short 3rd man by Callum Lucking – leaving the home side 5-4 off 3 overs!! After watching all this happen their skipper produced a very good knock of 60no to save his side from defeat backed up well by the number 8 32no. In hindsight that start may of been costly as Holmesdale just looked to score their batting points as they knew 187 was a long way of. Another good performance from the boys and still undefeated so far this season. Keep it up this week at home to Sibton Park. Webby

3rds washed out at Waller
Dartford CC 3rd XI vs Bromley CC 3rd XI
Result – Abandoned – scorecard

4ths edged out by Dartfordians

Dartfordians 2nd XI vs Dartford CC 4th XI scorecard
Result – Dartfordians 2nd XI won – scorecard

Dartfordians were asked to bat first after Hughesy won the toss on a very wet day in Bexley. The real Darts made good inroads with Richard Hirschfield taking 3-17 to leave the home side 50-4. Wickets continued to tumble with Ross Thompson picking up 3-39 and Satish Yeruva claiming 4-17 to bowl Dartfordians out for 144. With conditions worsening and the pitch resembling a minefield, Darts were facing an uphill struggle to chase down the runs. Wickets fell regularly and the only real resistance was from John Smyth on his Dartford debut with 46 before the team were all out for 89.