Kentish Express Ashford & District
Du Plooy ends stay but rain spoils day
Leus du Plooy jetted home to South Africa on Sunday at the end of his second spell with Tenterden.
The 22-year-old all-rounder managed only a single on his final appearance in an eventful rain-ruined Premier Division contest against Blackheath at Rectory Field the previous day.
Du Plooy returns to prepare for the new domestic franchise season with VKB Knights, with the long-term aim to play himself into contention for a South Africa A team call-up in the next 18 months.
He scored 635 league runs in 13 innings for Tenterden, including two hundreds. He leaves the club in fifth place in the table with 142 points and five games to play, beginning with a trip to Tunbridge Wells on Saturday.
Bowlers dominated in the 40-plus overs that were possible on Saturday, with Tom Richards and Sam Weller taking two wickets each as the home side slumped to 21-4, after Tenterden were shot-out for only 89 – former Kent man Warren Lee (4-19) and ex-Essex seamer Jahid Ahmed (4-17) doing the damage
Richards said: “It was quite green, and a seamers’ wicket, with cloud over and the rain also playing their part.
“We played in the rain but it got a little too heavy.
“We knew from watching the weather radars that it was going to go completely downhill. It would have been a close game had it gone the distance.”
He added: “There is still work to do to make sure we stay up and we want to finish as high as possible. We would like to think we are safe but there is no point in taking anything for granted.
“It would have been nice if Leus could have stayed a bit longer but we knew the situation when he came back.
“He will be massively missed, not only on the pitch, but because he’s a great clubman and you wouldn’t wish to have a better person in the changing room.”
Lee won an important toss and put the visitors in, before removing the top three, including skipper Ben Price (21) and du Plooy with the total 24. Adam Ball and Andrew Crawford followed.
Linden Lockhart held up Blackheath, making 30 off 69 balls, losing partners at the other end before being last out.
Richards struck early having Dipayan Paul held by du Plooy at point before Weller sent back Tanweer Sikandar and Lee. Richards then bowled Jahid for three, before rain finally drove the players off.
Richards will spend this winter playing in Australia for the first time.
He has agreed a contract with Korumburra, 75 miles south east of Melbourne.
“Our skipper Ben Price has contacts with an agent who has helped arrange it.
“I am going in late September and will be there for six months,” he said.
“Team-mate Jamie Drewe is playing for Imperials, 10 minutes down the road.”
Alistair Burge hit 12 fours in an unbeaten 59 for Tenterden 2nds who totalled 149-5 in 26 overs against Dartford 2nds before the match was abandoned.