Weekend of 11/08/2007 to 12/08/2007

With both of the top two teams in Division 3 losing, the race for the promotion spots is hotting up with just 3 games left. Whilst second place Holmesdale were being bowled out for 90 to lose to Downham, Ashford were having problems of their own at Ball Lane against Walmer.

Keen to avenge their only defeat this season, Ashford's cause wasn't helped by 4 first team regulars being unavailable, with two withdrawing late on Friday.

Winning the toss and opting to bowl first, The Ants' opening bowlers, Alex Watson & Simon Taylor, bowled well on a pitch not offering a lot of assistance. Walmer's opening pair of Andy Furness (36) and Andy Burkett (36) batted sensibly, putting on 66 before the introduction of Liam Tegg saw both bowled in consecutive overs. Si Taylor got his just deserts when he trapped Wilcox in front but Tom Shaw was looking in good form.

Tegg continued to bowl well, but the Ants were two bowlers short and the lack of penetration on the flat track started to show as Shaw and Mark Parnell took advantage of the conditions to push the score onto 143 before Parnell was well caught a deep square leg by young Ollie Bartlett to give Tegg his third wicket. Shaw then went on the assault and reached a deserved half century and, with Adam Barratt, pushed the score onto 209 in the 50th over. Shaw finished on 72 not out with Tegg the pick of the bowlers taking 3 for 67.

210 shouldn't have been a daunting task but when Day (8), Tegg (4) and Paine (0), who have all been in good form this year, were all back in the hutch with the score on 16, things weren't looking good for the League leaders. Si Taylor and John Brazier set about repairing the damage and had moved the score onto 75 without any dramas before Taylor (23) drove a catch to extra cover. Ed Spencer and Chris Senior soon followed and at 80 for 6 with nearly 30 overs to go, The Ants were staring down the barrel of defeat. John Brazier, who has been unlucky this season, started to show his undoubted class and was playing superbly. With partners running out he started to shepherd the tail and reached his second half century of the season playing some excuisite cover drives and clips off his legs. Young 13 year old debutant, Jo Jolly, who had fielded superbly earlier in the day, showed the Club his potential as he shared a precious 35 run stand with Brazier that lasted 12 overs. It took the score past 125, to secure a bonus point and, more importantly, took the game into the last 10 overs to give Ashford a glimmer of hope. Jolly so infuriated the Walmer attack that they resorted to bouncing the youngster, but he stood firm until he became Cookson's second victim for a determined 6.

Brazier now decided that attack was the best from of defence and smashed 4 quick boundaries to take his score to 90, but when he was last out, caught and bowled, in the 44th over Ashford had only reached 144 to give Walmer their deserved victory.

Left arm spinner Pete Huntley took 3 for 28 to decimate the middle order and seamers Parnell (3 for 44), Cookson (2 for 37) & Barrett (2 for 30) were the other wicket takers.

The only solace for the town side was Holmesdale's shock loss and now it's all very close at the top of the table. Ashford lead by 5 points from Downham with Holmesdale a further 4 points behind in third place. With both of these teams due to face Ashford in the last three games, it promises to be an interesting climax to the season.

Ashford face lowly BOCA at Ball Lane this Saturday, with a victory almost vital for their quest for promotion. Gary Sutton. Shannon Fattore and Nad Campbell all return to the squad after missing the Walmer game.

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Walmer 209-5 (50 overs) (L.Tegg 3-67, S.Paine 1-33, S.Taylor 1-46)

Ashford 144 all out (45.4 overs) (J.Brazier 90, S.Taylor 23, J.Day 8)

Lost by 65 runs

Ashford 2nd's strengthened their promotion position with an excellent victory over Bexley at the weekend on not an easy wicket which had variable bounce.

Bexley were asked to bat first and despite the openers being beaten by Ben Ealham and Colin Paine on numerous occasions they took the score to 76 before the introduction of spinner Ali Neale made the all important breakthrough. Ben Spencer quickly grabbed the second and wickets then proceeded to fall at regular intervals with Neale taking 4-38 from 15 overs, Paine his normal economical self then picked up a couple and Ealham was also deservedly successful with Bexley ending on 155-9.

Ashford started brightly racing to 25 in the first 4 overs before openers Darran Wood and Neil Tegg both fell in quick succession. Ben Ealham quickly struck three 4's but was then caught for 15 leaving Ali Neale and Tony Rolfe to put together the vital match winning partnership. Tony Rolfe in his own swashbuckling style cracked a fine 44 and 15 year old Neale played with good maturity to make a confident 37. The game was finished off by Luke Harcourt who made a very composed 18 and James Anthony 10 not out.

With just three games to go Ashford travel to BOCA this Saturday looking to continue promotion push.

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Bexley IV 155-9 (50 overs) (No bowling stats yet available)

Ashford 156-6 (41.4 overs) (No batting stats yet available)

Won by 4 wickets

A very disappointing day in all. Folkestone won the toss and batted and reached 230-8. A good bowling performance by Andy Harcourt with 5-46 including a 3-wicket maiden. Folkestone had a good day with the bat. Ashford did well with the team they had and put in a good effort to try to stem the flow of runs but it was not to be.

When Ashford came to bat, Andy Harcourt and Bob Bradley got them off to a good start but from 75-2 they collapsed to 88 all out. As is the way at Folkestone, if you win the toss you bat first as towards the end 4 wickets fell as no Ashford batsman could pick the ball being chucked up in to the sun and being unable to see.

Folkestone 230-8 (A.Harcourt 5-46)

Ashford 88 all out (No batting stats available)

Lost by 142 runs

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