Another nail-biter against Otford

Otford were our opponents for a nerve-wracking tie (as in scores level) at Outwood back in May. For long periods of the game, Saturday's fixture seemed to be following a very similar pattern and some were wondering if they could get down to the bookmakers to place bets on a second tie in two games against the same opponents. Luckily, Keith Hall (33 no) and Max Evans (1 no) provided stoical resistance to bring Outwood home with over 7 overs to spare.

Another great opening spell from Malley (1 for 19) and Tunstall (0 for 18) reduced Otford to 6 for 1 in 5 overs after Outwood lost the toss and were inserted. Two Otford youngsters, Harry Piper (47) and William Harby (24) batted well before Harby - captain of Kent U13s - was well caught by Dru Tunstall at mid wicket off Max Evans. Outwood used 7 bowlers who all made scoring very difficult with their accuracy. Pick of the bowlers were Keith Hall with 2 for 19 from his 9 overs and Ellis Peacock with 4 for 43. Nat Hiscocks polished off the innings with 2 wickets in his only over and Otford were bowled out for 135 in 36.5 overs. Mention should be made of Lucas Evans who deputised for the missing Teasdale behind the stumps and looked as though he had been doing it for years although it was in fact his first time; two catches, no byes, no leg byes.

A very gettable total on a good, albeit slow wicket. But Otford used Outwood's tactic to good effect - bowl tightly and give nothing away. Both openers departed in the first two overs and it was left to Chris Preen (24) and Rob Rigby (35) to put Outwood back on track with a partnership of 53 off 10 overs. A middle order collapse repeated the pattern of the first game before Keith and John Hall combined to take the score over 100. More tight bowling was disrupted by Lucas Evans who hit a breezy 13 off 14 balls and Keith (33 no) stayed to the end to bring Outwood home - a MotM performance from him. Good job we didn't waste our money on that bet.