Match Report - 1st XI vs Staplehurst CC (a) - 27th July 2021

HELYAR SAVES THE DAY AS THE 1S WIN ON THE ROAD AGAIN

TCC 1st XI - 163 All Out

Staplehurst - 84 All Out

After a COVID-induced week off, Tonbridge 1st XI travelled to high-flyers Staplehurst looking to build on some good, if inconsistent, recent performances and put a dent in their opponent's title challenge. Stand-in captain Martin Batley lost the toss and TCC were asked to bat on what looked like a scoreable wicket.

Opener Chirag Patel had his off-stump removed first ball of the innings by opening bowler Tom Henson (10-2-19-3) in what was a dangerous opening spell. TCC were reeling 40/4 after Mark Burns feathered a leg-side delivery to wicket-keeper Tom Grinstead and Michael Topham was adjudged LBW offering no shot to the impressive Tom Davey (10-4-16-2), with only Steve Hall (30) offering any real resistance.

Hall was run-out after a mix-up with the score still only on 66 and the fall of another quick wicket left Tonbridge staring down the barrel of another below-par score.

Former captain Nick Helyar - making his return to the 1st XI - had other ideas however, and his combination of a watchful early innings with some big hitting towards the end saw Tonbridge eventually bowled out for 163, Helyar top-scoring with 37.

Tonbridge knew they had a defendable total if they bowled well, and Batley (7-4-10-3) and Khurram Shehzad (8-4-20-1) lead from the front, the highlight being a superb caught and bowled by K Shehzad to remove McConnel. Nadeem Shehzad (9.1-1-26-4) did what he does best and continually broke any partnerships that threatened to develop, including the key wicket of Staplehurst skipper T. Davey (26).

Eventually Tonbridge bowled Staplehurst out for 84, with a strong performance all-round with the ball and in the field. TCC welcome Frindsbury to Poplar Meadow next week looking to find some consistency and make a late push towards the top half of the division.