We knew playing Bromley without our two leading wicket takers was going to be a tough proposition and so it proved but we gave them a bloody good game.
Will elected to bat in sunshine at the Rectory, a decision vindicated by a good overall batting performance. Seb and Joe got the team off to a solid start before Joe was yorked for 16 by the steady swing bowling of Joe McNeil. Jamal came in and scored an unhurried 29 while Seb hit a run a ball 70 before being caught out trying to hit a fourth consecutive boundary. Foysol played a great little knock in the middle order, 37 from 34 balls including one slog sweep six into the Nursery. Ahmed once again highlighted his batting power, blasting 31 off 16 balls and the skipper Hickman added useful runs at the end too which left Bromley requiring 251 for victory.
Bromley started their reply in aggressive fashion, Sadiq Hassan hitting a quick half century before being caught at midwicket off Ahmed. Shojib picked up numbers 1 and 3 which brought Michael Lawrence and Chris Tooley to the crease who scored well made 82 and 37’s respectively but they hadn’t yet taken the game away from us thanks to some tidy bowling from our spinners Saqib and Swaddy.
Then Mehdi Abbas came on up to bowl on debut and picked up 2 quick wickets – we were back in it. A huge appeal followed to the Bromley skipper Robert Drummer first ball...full...straight...not given!
Drummer went on to score 44 not out off 26 balls and win the game for Bromley in the 48th over.
Very close and hard fought game and despite the loss we could be proud of our performance against a experienced Bromley side.
