Belhus Cricket Club News Flash

Belhus 1st XI 218-5
Tatsfield Village 78 all out

A magnificent 120-run fourth wicket partnership between Gavin Jefferies and Chris Baker, followed by a devastating spell of medium pace bowling by Alan Maidment which yielded 5-14, sealed the fate of the visitors to North Stifford from Tatsfield, near Westerham in Kent on Sunday afternoon. Jefferies struck an undefeated 73 from 92 deliveries - a personal best in adult cricket - the innings containing one six and seven fours. Baker struck 66 at a rate of exactly one run per ball and struck six boundaries. To compound the problems of Tatsfield Village, Maidment was keen to show no mercy and claimed the first four wickets to fall, those of Luke Mecton, Andrew Woolhouse and Simon Hendry, all clean bowled for 10,11 and nought respectively, while Jonathon Dunn was trapped leg before, also without score. Ton finish the match, Maidment was re-introduced to the attack with Tatsfield all but finished at 70 for 9 wickets after 22 overs. Needless to say, Maidment took just four deliveries to finish the job despite being clubbed for two boundaries. Last man James Enever was the victim, mercilessly bowled for eight as Maidment completed his 6.4 overs with two maidens, his fourth over being a double wicket maiden with dismissals on his third and sixth deliveries. Only Chris Heaseman and Kevin Eames joined Woolhouse in double figures with 23 not out and 16 respectively.

For Belhus, Maidment received good support from Ian Wright, 2-19 from eight overs (three maidens) while left-arm spin bowler Brian Edwards recovered from having 14 runs taken from his second over to finish with 3-24 from five overs, one of which was a maiden. Belhus rested Michael Fogg from his regular wicketkeeping position and the gloves went to Dale Kenyon while Fogg developed his off-spin. Kenyon claimed one stumping, that of Stuary Hendry for nought off Edwards, while Fogg managed just three overs of spin (0-17) until Maidment wrapped up this one-sided game after 22.4 overs of Tatsfield batting.

Earlier in the day, Michael Cansdale, Kenyon, Fogg had contributed 15, 20 and 14 not out respectively but these were minor contributions when compared with the Jefferies and Baker onslaught. Exactly 200 runs had come from the bat; the remaining 18 were extras, though Kenyon will be comforted by the fact that only four of those were byes. For the visitors, Enever was top bowler with 2-31 from eight overs and three maidens, while Stuart Hendry and Chris Heaseman took one wicket apiece.