More main ground action for the TWCC Sunday 2's, this time against the more local than most, Linden Park. Despite losing the toss, stand-in skipper Callum Wood somehow blagged a bat, and Sam Stickler repaid this generous gift by being caught and bowled in the second over for next to nothing. Still, this allowed the best partnership of the innings, as Wes Bryce-Borthwick, despite a massive early scare, played comfortably for 50, supported by leg-side specialist Will Lee (21). These two put on 70 with a combination of good strokes and rubbish running between the wickets. James Sharp, following his unique hangover cure of rubbing bread into his face, was bowled for a painful blob, leaving Billy McCarthy (25) with some good clean strikes, and rather a few Extras to fluff the score up to 174-7 dec off 37 overs.

Opening up, Tom Jenner did the straightforward good off stump-ish line, and took two early wickets, being well supported by Sonny Mohammed - and some good all-round fielding, especially James Sharp in the gully, who, drugged up to the eyeballs (which admittedly is not that far) suddenly sobered and made up for the last lost 4 hours. The Linden Park captain kept the scoreboard ticking with a very natural, composed innings, but the spin combo of Christian Dell and Jock Paterson slowed down and bamboozled the middle order with four wickets between them. At this stage about another 17 people all had a bowl, and the tail wagged a little as the game petered out a little, before Jenner returned to mop up for victory in a friendly, well played game. Thanks to Yvonne for scoring in Arctic gales, and well done to Callum for stepping in at short notice.

The Sunday 2’s continued their unbeaten demolition run of opponents on the main ground with a victory over local rivals Crowborough in an old fashioned see-sawing uber-match. Forced into a 40 overs game, as well as fielding first, TWCC kept stroke play to a minimum as the bowlers gave nothing away. Following alcohol related bribery, James Sharpe swung the ball round corners for 2 overs before taking over the gloves and, though it pains me to say it, produced a flawless display of up-to-the-stumps keeping. Ben Watts sent down 5 maidens in his first 6 overs, with the most delicate of away swingers, and along with Vik Ayyaz’s good areas,  Crowborough stumbled to 90-5. Fortunately, Corbishley and Baxter were on hand to bowl some crap to set a target, but a run out, good spells from Shabaz and Nick Sharpe, and a

debut wicket from the Off-breaking Monolith David Wharrier left the oppo 142ao from 39.4 overs. 

In reply, some of the top order made starts, but no one appeared interested in seeing us home. Sam Watts again settled for around the 20 mark, and Sharpey held firm against the good stuff before throwing it away against the lobs… whoa… sorry, déjà vu… where was I… Anyway, after a few single figure scores from the middle order, we found ourselves 90-6 and in a little trouble. However, awarding himself a trip up from his number 11 slot for no discernable reason, Corbishley finally burgled some runs, with a brisk and

bar-filling 37 runs, containing his first off-side boundaries since 1996. The game turned again with two quick wickets, but last wicket partnership Ayyaz and Watts B eased off the remaining 20 runs, with Vic hitting big for 20not out, and Ben gliding 8 classy runs to see us home with 2 overs left. Thanks to Ian and Ryan for turning out at short notice, and well done to everyone in a good fielding display.

Tunbridge Wells Sunday 2nd XI began their 2008 campaign for real cricket with a cheerful victory over Carshalton and Croydon Gas CC. On a preposterously early trip down to the main paddy field, Callum got a good delivery, and Allatt was confounded by a viscous straight ball, before Gregor Paterson and The Worlds Greatest Ringer™ Phil Du Plessis set about cutting and shovelling the change bowling around for a decent 139-run partnership. Gregor ended with 81* and Mr. Du Plessis was bowled off the last ball of the innings for 73. 198-3 dec in 38 overs.

After Matt Green got a good caught behind early on in a useful spell, C&C G CC’s number 3 and remaining opener Sam Stickler, ingloriously guesting for the opposition, put together a watchful 67-run partnership in the face of occasionally

accurate bowling. Bavin Patel bowled one bad ball in 6 overs which naturally took the breakthrough wicket, before Emmerson Wood carved out 3 of the middle order with annoyingly good spin. The fielders did their part to keep

Carshalton in the game for a while longer, with Paterson and Corbishley dropping Keess-esque clangers, but the support bowling was too strong, and they were all out for 137, in a handy early season run out.