The pitch was moist and a bit green and conditions were pleasant. Beechwood won the toss and elected to bat on what appeared to be a good batting surface. This was a timed match.
Kelly and Makin opened the batting and started slowly, with only 12 on the board Makin attempted to cut a ball that was a bit too close and played onto his stumps. Warner came in and he and Kelly began to build a partnership against some fairly testing bowling.
They had moved the score onto 45 when Kelly was bowled. Hill came in and suffered the same fate first ball and all of a sudden Beechwood were back in the myre.
What followed was basically a steady stream of batsmen arriving at the crease and departing very quickly (Bates - Caught at slip, McCrea - Caught at slip and Woodward - Bowled first ball).
Warner kept the scoreboard moving, punishing the short ball at every opportunity but the pressure was mounting as Beechwood collapsed to 73 for 6.
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Warner was then caught at mid off for a stubborn 31 and the vultures were beginning to circle. The roll of dishonour was completed as follows:
Robinson - Bowled
Morton - Bowled
Savory - Bowled
Beechwood finished on 83 all out on a pitch where they should have been looking to score 180 at least!
Wadhurst, having shuffled their batting order, started positively against Bates and Woodward. Woodward picked up 2 wickets in his first spell, Bates and Cooksley taking the catches respectively but Wadhurst were well in control. McCrea and Savory replaced Woodward and Bates but had no joy, Savory in particular bowled well. Woodward came back to replace McCrea and picked up another wicket, Makin taking the catch to give the result an air of respectability but Wadhurst reached the total with a 4 through the slips.
Beechwood managed to save their worst performance of the season for one of the stronger sides they play. Beechwood XI:
Bates, Cooksley, Hill, Kelly, Makin (w), McCrea, Morton, Robinson, Savory, Warner, Woodward (c)
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