Lenham Cricket Club

Ten matches since my last report. On Saturday 2nd August we played Northfleet in a friendly fixture. They were bowled out for 97 in 40 overs - top scorer being a chap called ‘Extras’ scoring 34! Obviously feeling over confident, Lenham proceeded to get itself bowled out for 87.

The following day we played against East Langdon with a defeat by 38 runs, despite the best efforts of Steve Livesey with bowling figures of 10 overs, 1 maiden, 3 for 25.
The following Saturday we managed to beat Challock in a friendly. Russell Gray took 3 for 30 in 12 overs, including 7 maidens and Phil Gracie took 3 for 20 in his 8 overs, in restricting Challock to 149. Alex Gray then took over and top scored with 64 as Lenham won by 2 wickets.

On Sunday 16th we lost a tight league match against Selsted. Totalling 246 for 7 in our 45 overs, thanks to David Shannon on his maiden century for Lenham, with 123 not out. Selsted then went on to get the required runs losing only 3 wickets.

In a friendly against Newington on Saturday 17th, they scored 231 for 9, featuring an innings of 6 by one of Newington’s tail-enders. These six runs were the result of one blow, and could have seriously hurt our scorer, David Humphrey, had he not leapt from his seat and run! Lenham then set about chasing runs and with more support than just Tony Ambrose and Tim Lester for our opener, Paul Smith, we may have got close! A disappointing 152 all out.
We were triumphant the following
week against Egerton, Simon Beaney taking 4 for 35. Simon Hammond steered us to victory by 5 wickets, scoring 80 before being bowled, with support from the rest of the side.

On Sunday we drew a match against an unnamed side. They scored 199 for 5, Phil Gracie taking 3 wickets, David Shannon scoring 45, Mike Fraser 13 and Tony Ambrose 42. Darren Pearce came in at No.10 and scored 25 not out. Our total of 170 left us 29 runs short.

Bank Holiday Monday we took on Harrietsham in a 40 over friendly! They scored 168 all out in 38 overs but apart from Steve Hurkett’s 44 and three other double figure scores, Lenham surrendered to the bowling of Robin Mayes, who took 6 for 14 in less than 8 overs.

A friendly against Stowting on the 30th seems to have been abandoned after 15 overs of our reply to their 193 for 6, Steve Hurkett finishing on 46 not out in a total of 63 for no wicket. I was away and presume rain stopped play.

We were on the losing side on the 31st in a league match against St Margarets. Dismissed for 137, the bowlers didn’t have much of a chance and St Margarets reached their total in 33 overs with 6 wickets to spare.
A pretty mixed season as far as our introduction to league cricket is concerned. In my next report, the last of the season, I will give you information about our Annual Dinner and Dance. If you fancy introducing yourself at a social function rather than on the field of play, it will be your opportunity!
Gez Clark

(Sept 2003)
Well, what a month! I’m talking about the weather, not the cricket! You may remember the last comment in the match report section of August’s Focus, and yes, it really was that bad! The 1st game in August was a friendly against East Sutton, normally a close match. On this occasion East Sutton batted first and reached a total of 207 for 6 from 43 overs. Nothing too drastic there, until you read that Lenham were bowled out for 70 inside 25 overs!

The following day, Sunday August 6th, saw a much more comforting display. In a league match against New Romney played on The Marsh, a fine display from all our bowlers saw New Romney dismissed for 125 in 37.1 overs, which gave us a three wicket victory dispelling the glum mood of the previous day.

The following Saturday, another league match and another good win at Goodnestone Park. Good all-round bowling saw the opposition end their innings on 129 for 9 from their full allocation of 45 overs. The Lenham innings started badly, however, with a magnificent partnership between Alex Gray and Simon Hammond, saw Lenham home to another fine league win.
In a friendly the following day with Sissinghurst, Tony Ambrose and Alan Obbard, both just missing out on half centuries, with Alan proving that he is still a mean bowler and supported by Simon Beaney gave us a draw.
On the 19th we played another league match, this time against Willesborough at home. Batting first, the team was grateful to Steve Hurkett for his batting contribution but in spite of good bowling figures by Steve Livesey, Willesborough completed a victory in the last over of their full allocation of 45 overs with 2 wickets to spare.

The next day we played Herne Bay at home in a friendly. Lenham batted first and scored 304 for the loss of only 4 wickets. A very weak Herne Bay side could only muster a total of 100 all out in reply.

The next weekend Lenham played another league fixture at home against Nonington who batted first and amassed a huge 305 for 4 from 41 overs. However, Lenham set to with great determination, with a special mention to openers Smith and Hammond. Chad Henderson made a magnificent 89, seeing a succession of batsmen come and go at the other end until joined by Tony Ambrose for a very good 42. Despite this, the innings came to a close with Lenham still 50 runs adrift. 560 runs in an afternoon is terrific entertainment.

The next day we hosted old adversaries Staplehurst for a friendly. Darren Pearce bowled his heart out but Staplehurst finished their innings on 194 for 5 and destroyed Lenham’s batting line up with a total of 116 all out.

Sincere apologies to anybody who came along to the ground on August 2nd on Presidents’ Day. Unfortunately we had to cancel the celebrations at short notice.
Gez Clark

(from July 2003)

Apart from our first game with Elham Valley, which was rained off, most of our other games have been played in reasonable weather (for the time of year!) although a couple have been completely lost to the rain. We had the better side of a draw in the first game of the season against Pluckley, where Steve Wellard top scored with 74.

That was followed by a frustrating draw against Smarden, where Simon Hammond ended the Lenham innings unbeaten on 154, a brilliant effort. We then beat Higham and Mockbeggar by 6 wickets, Simon Hammond and Andy Barr both scoring half centuries, and drew with Otterden where Steve Hurkett and Alex Gray made fifties.

The rain rescued Lenham against Meopham, when the opposition, set just 126 to win, were cruising at 78 for 3 after 20 overs when the heavens opened! The next game was abandoned less than halfway through due to rain, then we got stuffed by Detling, losing by 7 wickets inside 32 overs!

The next game, against Holborough Valley was restricted to 20 overs a side, and ended in a narrow loss, by 9 runs. Hartley Country Club then beat us by 5 wickets, Little Chart beat us by 4 wickets, and that brings you right upto date.

We will be organising a coach trip to Boulogne during the late summer, probably in early September, so keep your eyes open for posters around the village and more articles in this fine publication! This trip is not a completely new idea, but we have not done one for about 8-10 years, and anyone who went will tell you what a good day we had (if they can remember!!)

We are still looking for new members, although now the football season is over (for a couple of months at least!) we seem to have a few to choose from. Any additions to the selection list will just mean that the selection committee will have to have another pint while they select!!!

If you are not interested in playing but would like to come and watch, please feel free.

Our fixtures will be published in Focus each month from now until the end of the season:

Saturdays –

5th July, East Sutton (away);

12th, Goodnestone Park (away);

19th, Hillsborough (home);

26th, Mannington (home).

Sundays –

6th, New Romney (away);

13th, Sissinghurst (home);

20th, Herne Bay (home);

27th, Staplehurst (home).

It can make for quite a pleasant afternoon, so come along and introduce yourself.

Another date to remember is 2nd August, when we will celebrate our President’s Day. The format for the day has not yet been decided, but whatever the game, it will be great fun as always.
Gez Clark.

(from 2001)

Lenham Cricket Club had a very good season in the year 2000 and membership is thriving. Various improvements have been made recently, notably a new sight screen, a new all weather practice net and improvements to the Pavilion interior.

The Club has fixtures on every Saturday and Sunday of the season, plus on Bank Holidays and various mid-week matches. A Tour is arranged every year and for this year the party is staying at Trent Bridge and playing four matches in the vicinity in the first week of June.

Andrew Barr

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