The day started badly for Warner who managed to take a wrong turning off the M25 and ended up going the wrong way down the A20 - all the way to Sidcup!!! Beechwood won the toss and due to the late arrival of several players who will remain nameless elected to bat. Conditions were muggy and the pitch looked slow.

Freeman and Kelly (Yes that's right it's not a typing error!) opened the batting for Beechwood and quickly found scoring difficult, both batsmen finding very little pace to work with in the pitch. Freeman was soon undone by the pitch and was caught. Warner came in but Kelly quickly departed, caught chasing a wide delivery. Rogers was next in and both batsmen set about punishing the bad ball. Batting was still difficult as one end was providing extra bounce and making it hard for either batsmen to get forward.

The score had reached 80 when Rogers (29) dragged one on and brought Robinson to the crease. Warner (35) was attempting to push the score along when he got his pitching wedge out and was caught on the fence. Morton quickly departed caught in the gully followed by Robinson. Cooksley soon lost his leg stump and it was left to McCrea and Makin to see out the rest of the innings. Both batsmen batted very sensibly, working the ball around and keeping the scoreboard ticking over. Beechwood finished on 151 for 8, a fine effort in the end.

Rogers and McCrea opened the bowling and it was clear from the start that the Wilmington openers were going to play their shots. Woodward decided to replace Rogers with himself (he bowls top spinners evidently - when he pitches one we'll let you know!!).

McCrea had already removed one opener and was bowling very steadily. Woodward had removed nobody and was in danger of getting an invite to the Wilmington Cricket Club Christmas Party. Woodward then decided to return to his master trade - seam bowling and bowled much tighter.

All the while McCrea was chipping away at the Wilmington batsmen. Woodward brought Rogers back on with 5 wickets down and Wilmington needing 40 odd to win from 16 overs. After some stubborn resistance Rogers and McCrea mopped up the remaining 5 wickets for just 19 runs. Rogers finished with figures of 3 for 39 including a hat trick attempt which he failed to convert and McCrea finished with the outstanding figures of 7 for 44 having bowled through from one end.

Beechwood did well to win a game they looked to have lost but everybody forgot that Frank Sinatra was in the house as Woody did it 'His Way'!

Team: Chris, Cooksley, Freeman, Kelly, Makin (w), McCrea, Morton, Robinson, Rogers, Warner, Woodward (c)