1stXI Match Report - Linden Park v Beckenham (League)

Another fine day albeit with a chilly breeze greeted the Beckenham team as they arrived at the picturesque home of Linden Park with its famous rocks on one side.  The Beckenham scorer was glad of his fleece as it seemed like it was going to get rather nippy by late afternoon as he met his scoring colleague and settled down in front of the pavilion to await the start, Park having won the toss and electing to bat on a firm, good-looking pitch.

First impressions of the opening overs were that Park openers Max Campbell and Sadiq Hassan had been earnestly studying the ‘Bazball’ manual of Messrs. McCullum and Stokes.  Bats were swung mightily and the red orb disappeared to all parts with 33 on the board in a mere three overs!  This wasn’t helped by Junaid Nadir’s radar going on the blink with wide balls screaming to the boundary!  The first breakthrough came as Hassan mistimed another mighty blow from Nadir and Ross Piller took a fine catch.  Nadir’s radar now fully restored, the Beckenham quick was now bowling at a waspish pace and had Matthew White edging to Balmforth for a single and then nailing Bhati in front for a ‘Primary’.  Campbell, meanwhile, was a bemused onlooker at the non-striker’s end as wickets crashed and he began to put together a useful stand with skipper Francis which ended when Saad Khan trapped him in front for 28.  Khan struck again at 83 when Beck was well-held by James Fear.  The gallivanting Rob Clements, making his first appearance, came on after a typically miserly spell from Mahi.  He didn’t have to wait long for a wicket as he trapped the Park skipper in front with his second ball and then entered a tidy partnership with Johan Malcolm bowling into the stiff breeze.  After a useful stand between Jason White and Justin MacVicar, Malcolm dismissed both before the tail began to wag through Speer (17) and Freddie Hulbert (26) and then Nadir had Speer edging behind and Matt Fanning, coming on with the wind, had Hulbert held by Clements as Park were all out for 180.  The bowling award went to Nadir with 4-47 which would have been even more impressive minus 17 wides!

Against the decidedly sharp James Speer downwind and the steady Freddie Hulbert, Gethin Roberts and Alex Senn started solidly with Roberts settling in nicely before Hulbert broke through and disturbed the stumps.  Enter James Fear to be trapped in front first ball as he strives to get his season started and regain the form of the past two seasons.  Khan looked as if he’d carry on from where he left off last week but was dismissed by first-change Matthew White for 6 to make the score 54-3.  As Senn, showing much-improved form after last season, anchoring the innings expertly, Johan Malcolm was quickly on the attack with a flurry of exquisitely-timed boundaries and the score moved along at a good pace with Senn showing splendid shot selection and keeping a firm hand on the tiller.  The stand had been worth 48 before Malcolm holed out to Hassan off Bhati for 35.  Ross Piller, tonsils now not inflamed, added further impetus with a couple of boundaries before he too fell to Bhati bringing Mahi to join his skipper.  As Senn completed a most workmanlike fifty in a shade over two hours, Mahi played himself in and then began to attack the Park bowling which soon brought the target closer and closer.  Playing some powerful thumping drives, the score raced along and, with Senn departing for a splendid 62, Mahi finished the job in the company of Rob Clements with his final three scoring shots being a four and two massive sixes to see Beckenham home in an excellent game of cricket in which the home side bowled well and fielded like Tigers.  It’s now two wins from two for the Bees with Canterbury at Foxgrove next week.  

Scorecard: https://beckenham.play-cricket.com/website/results/5619436 (external site)