Kentish Express Ashford & District
Stand-in skipper plays leading role
CAPTAIN Tegg TAKeS FOUR WICKeTS AND TOP SCOReS WITH 64 Ashford Town
Liam Tegg led from the front as leaders Ashford Town brushed aside Minster by six-wickets in Kent League, Division 3.
Tegg, captaining Ashford in Sam Kennett’s absence, took 4-30 and then scored 64 in the victory over the Sheppey side.
Tegg said: “It was a fairly comprehensive win in the end, although they were 59-0 at one stage, but after that it was a great bowling performance, especially by Craig (Buckham).”
Buckham put in a bowling masterclass as he ended the game with figures of 6-29 from his 15 overs, dismissing Craig O’Donoghue, Elliott McEntire and Aidan Cain for ducks, as well as catching Mark Tucker off the bowling of Tegg.
Bottom-of-the-table Minster elected to bat after winning the toss and got off to a strong start thanks to Sam Grundy (39) and Bobby Cunningham (33).
However, Ashford’s first wicket, taken with the Minster score on 59, prompted a collapse.
The visitors were bowled out in the 43rd over for just 122, with Buckham and Tegg sharing the wickets between them.
The stand-in captain carried on his good form when he picked up his bat, hitting more than half of his side’s runs, as Ashford reached 124-4 in just 29.2 overs.
Tegg said: “It’s the best I’ve felt this year. It’s always nice to take the pressure off the lads with a strong opening partnership as Luke Reeves played nicely too.”
The reverse fixture, saw Ashford Town 2nds slip to an 81run defeat against their Minster counterparts in Division 5.
James Rodway took 5-50 as Minster were dismissed for 186, but Town could only muster 105 all out in reply.