Match Report - 1st XI vs. Bromley Town (a) - 12th June 2021

The 1st XI were unable to follow up last week’s victory, falling to a 93-run defeat at league leaders Bromley Town in KCL Division 4.

An injury crisis meant that TCC were unable to provide an umpire, which resulted in a forfeited toss and a long 50 overs to field in the June heat.

Things started well, with Khurrum Shehzad (2-19) dismissing both Bromley openers in his first two overs, before Tom Goodyear (89) and skipper Lewis Dicker (64) steadied the ship for the home side.

As the new ball softened, batting became easier on a true deck – and Bromley’s pair built a dominant 150 run partnership in the sunshine.

Tonbridge’s bowlers kept battling, and late wickets from Ben Peters (3-52) and two sharp stumpings by Mike Jessop kept the score at tea to 253-8, when 280+ had been on the cards.

In reply, Tonbridge got off to the worst possible start. Left-arm quick Bhushan Khandave (4-10) blew away the top order to leave the innings in tatters at 25-4.

Debutant Martin Snow (26) and Jessop (43) set about rebuilding the innings with a much-needed 50 partnership, and as the ball again softened, it looked like the tide might be turning. Tonbridge were up with the rate and the fielding side was starting to flag.

But it was not to be. A fine caught-and-bowled by Dicker (1-26) saw off the dangerous Jessop, and Michael Armenakis (3-19) tempted the Tonbridge lower order into some rash shots against his loopy off-spin.

Tonbridge finished 160 all out – well beaten on the day, although 5 points earned was more than looked likely at times. TCC stay second bottom, hoping to bounce back on the long trip to Walmer this weekend.