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This week saw Bidborough make the short trip to our local neighbours, a fixture that can always be a banana skin in the League calendar.

Following a very damp week, and Southborough CC without covers, the toss was perceived to be vital. Alas Richard Larkin called wrong and Bidborough were inserted on a damp wicket. However, surprisingly there were few demons in the wicket although the ball was slow onto the bat. The opening pair of Sam Howes and Charlie Harding were patient but Charlie was dropped at long off by Robin Underwood when he was only on 21. An expensive drop!!. The opening pair batted through to the 20th over before Howes (49) edged behind off the left arm spin of Underwood. Soon after Mark Mitchell (6) fell to the same combination, but Harding was still patiently accumulating at the other end. Stuart Pinchin (9) ran himself out calling for a 2nd and Underwood then bowled Pat Rossiter (12). Richard Larkin scampered a few with Harding, giving Charlie as much strike as possible, two of which he dispatched over London Road, the second one smashing an annex bedroom window in the Hand & Sceptre. Larkin (13) fell to catch on the midwicket boundary, which saw Andy Eames (1 no) come to the crease and when the 40 overs came to a conclusion BCC had scored a satisfactory 231-5. Charlie Harding’s contribution of 133 not out was a great innings, following his 141 not out last week.

The defence was going to be built on good tight bowling and support all around the ground. Zemroy Thomas struggled for line early on, but soon found his range to knock over the wicket of their opener Ward. The dangerous Williams remained at the crease, but look frustrated as he saw a limited amount of strike, and it was not long before Zemroy took a very casual one handed catch of his own bowling to remove their No.3 Dennis. At the other end Mark Mitchell kept the runs down to keep the pressure building. The fall of the 2nd wicket then saw Robin Underwood stride to the crease and he and Williams gradually restored some balance, but then Williams inexplicably hit a leg stump full toss from Dale Hillhouse straight at Andy Eames at mid-wicket, who took a great catch. At drinks the game was still in the balance. However two balls afterwards, Hillhouse bowled down another leg stump full toss, only for Underwood to smash it straight to Mark Mitchell at square leg. The tail was now exposed and from then on regular wickets fell, with Tim Johnson bowling very well, ending up with 4-25 off 8 overs. Zemroy ran out the potentially dangerous Pulsford with a direct hit from mid-on to the keepers end, and the final wicket fell to Andy Eames. Southborough were 125 all out and we had a comfortable 106 run victory. It was good all round team performance, taking BCC to the top of the league.