First home game of the season and the ground was looking at its best on a hot Sunday afternoon.
Eastry batted first and got off to a steady start with Aaron Friend and Harry Kenton before Aaron uncharacteristically hauled out to mid on. When Harry Kenton fell shortly after, Ned Gleave and Ian Dartnell started to rebuild but Dartnell fell just as he started to get on. Wickets started to fall around Gleave before a new face to club Paul ‘I have not played in 20 years’ Mclean came to the crease. With 140 on the board and 8 overs remaining, Eastry were hoping to scrap towards 200 on good looking pitch. But some big blows from Gleave and a PB from Mclean saw Eastry total 235 with Gleave nudging a single off the last ball to reach a well deserved 100.

In reply Dover Cosmos knew they needed a solid start, however some tight bowling and sharp fielding meant they struggled to keep up with the run rate, managing only 19 runs off the first 9 overs. Once Eastry broke the opening partnership through Roger Hill, the incoming batsmen looked to catch up but Stewart Thompson stood firm and spun his way to figures of 6-8 off 6 overs, backed up by some good catching. Finally Paul ‘the Hustler’ Mclean was brought into the attack to finish with 3 wickets for himself.

http://eastry.play-cricket.com/website/results/2740950

Highlights
Ned Gleave – 100 Not Out
Stewart Thompson – 6-8
Paul Mclean – 35 runs, 3 catches, 3 wickets

Boughton and Eastwell won the toss and elected to bat, and so after a light shower Eastry took to the field. The reliable opening partnership of M Deveson and R Hill got Eastry off to a good start with some early wickets backed up by some tight fielding early on lead by the experienced Alan Spong, who certainly did not need a hand up. After a tight start, Eastry continued to press, turning to the spin of J Mayland and S Thomson, Boughton and Eastwell were reduced to 66-6 which included a very rare catch from M Sumner, which even surprise himself. But Eastry were pushed back with some big blows from M Usain reaching a quick fire 57 but Eastry remained patient and eventually got the breakthrough. M Morris who had built a partnership with Usain, played a calculated innings to see his team finish on 203. Despite not being able to build on the great start, Eastry finished tightly particularly from a returning R Smit who got the final wicket with one ball remaining.
Eastry got off to a good start with M Deveson and A Friend quickly reaching 50 before A Friend mistimed a full toss giving Boughton and Eastwell their first wicket. While the drizzle continued to full, Eastry continued to accumulate with R Smit regularly finding the boundary but were unable to prevent losing regular wickets keeping Boughton and Eastwell in the game and upbeat despite the weather. With 25 to get and 4 wickets in hand Eastry were fearful of another collapse with Boughton and Eastwell bowling tight lines, but an experienced tail end eventually saw Eastry over line.

http://eastry.play-cricket.com/website/results/2414598