2ndXI Jet Off With a Win Away At Ashford

The 2s made what is becoming a regular trip to the Heathrow flightpath ground of Ashford looking to avenge last seasons defeat there. Winning his first toss of the season skipper Matt Homewood elected that we put a score on the board. He was soon rewarded as Ben O got us off to a flyer with the skipper exquisite through backward point which was fruitful for boundaries. 50 without loss was soon up and then fifty for Ben off not many followed. We were going like a train with the stand worth 100 before Ben tried one too many and was well caught at mid on for 78. 113-1 soon became 114-4 and then 121-5 as wickets fell in clusters - Matt scoring 30 within the wickets that tumbled. With plenty of overs in hand it was down to the young heads of Trev Kenway and Matt Howlett to steady the ship. Both played watchfully with Trev brutal through extra cover. Using the overs well a handy partnership of 26 ensued before Matt departed. Not long after another quickfire wicket for the home side saw us 147-7. A crucial stand then started to form between Max and Quinny with the former taking a liking to the mid wicket region as Quinny played anchor. There partnership was worth 29 before Max was caught behind for 18. The last two wickets fell in similar fashion to the rest of the innings and we were dismissed for 189 with 5 overs still spare. Quinny 17 no.

It was always going to be 'one of those scores' and Max and Travis got us underway with miserly spells which is exactly what was required. Max drew first blood as he cleaned up the wiley Evans then Travis followed suit by removing Robinson caught behind. Ashford 5-2. The third wicket pair looked to sure things up and put on 39 before Travis bagged his second scalp. The big wicket was to be skipper Ahmed and man of the moment Ben O duly obliged in sending him packing. 62-4. With Ben and Quinny on in the middle overs backed by some excellent fielding (Matt Howlett, Wingy and Wilbur behind the timber) runs were hard to score. Quinny accounted for Lewis and Ben picked up a second with the hosts teetering at 84-6. Travis returned for a super second burst and claimed his third in figures of 3-31. 95-7. Quinny replicated this by picking up another two to leave us one wicket from victory and finished with cracking stats of 3-18. Trev mopped things up (like his barnet) to remove Wilson who had played a good hand for 30, but Ashford were dismissed for 138 and 51 runs the winning margin.

An excellent start for the 2s and on to a difficult trip to Purley.