For the third consecutive Saturday, TMCC players were urgently checking the weather radar on the morning of the game, as the inclement weather for May continued. Luckily heavy rain was avoided and a full 40 over a side game was played at Ide Hill.
After winning the toss, captain John Paton made the easy decision to field first on a damp unpredictable pitch. Ide Hill got off to a slow start as Tom Lenham and Bill Calvert kept it tight in the early overs. Tom then removed the Ide Hill skipper for 10 after a smart catch by Christian Chadwick at short extra cover.
Ide Hill struggled to increase the run rate as the variable conditions proved tricky. Steve Marsh and Steve Sutton bowled excellent spells, and Simon Uttridge and John Paton chipped in with a wicket apiece, but Tom Lenham was the pick of the bowlers claiming two further wickets in the closing overs. Ide Hill’s total of 150 seemed below par with the short boundary in play up the hill.
TMCC struggled in reply, with the openers, Steve Marsh and Richard Sims removed cheaply. Tom Lenham was then caught behind and at 7 for 3, a rebuild was needed. Howard Alexander and Adam Nix laid the foundations, and although Howard was soon bowled, Guy Kemsley came to the crease and started to build a partnership with Adam.
This partnership would not be broken as a watchful start was followed by fluent strokeplay. This combined with some good running between the wickets, saw TMCC over the line with more than three overs to spare. It really was an excellent partnership of 115, which is the highest of the season so far.