Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Champions slip up in opener
CHRIST CHURCH UNIVERSITY MIS-FIRE IN FIRST GAME AGAINST CANTERBURY, Indoor cricket
Of the results of six Pharon Indoor Cricket League fixtures featuring university teams on Sunday, there was one that could be of special significance come the new year.
Champions for the past two years, Christ Church 1 lost – to Canterbury 1. The students’ first appearance in defence of their title was strangely inept.
They were their usual nimble selves in the field but, with one or two exceptions, fell short in other areas.
The make-up of both sides looked a bit different to last season and it was an opening stand between Sam Burt (32) and Justin Macvicar (26) that was mainly responsible for Canterbury’s total of 105.
CCCU’S hopes then rested on two of the 2016-17 squad but, after Jack Wheeler was stumped for 34 and Phil Semmens caught for 22, CCCU were dismised for 89.
As if to atone for earlier indiscretions, CCCU stayed on the pitch to outplay newlypromoted Sturry 1 who found out what life in Division 1 is all about.
With every batsmen collecting runs at will, CCCU made 146-2, Sturry replied with 68-4.
CCCU2 then marked their First Division debut with a singlewicket win over Gravesend, runners-up last season.
In a low-scoring match, CCCU, chasing a mere 68, were rescued by last man James Roche (22 not).
Using a slow bowler ‘at the death’ can be a gamble but it paid dividends for UKC1 when they prevented Street End 1 adding another 12 runs for a last-over victory.
James Duckett, who had taken a wicket with the first ball of his two-over spell, conceded eight runs before Street End’s Kevin Hopper was asked to hit the final delivery for four.
He could not get the ball away and UKC won by one run.
Earlier, Duckett, Danny Vernon and Adil had all got 20s in a total regarded as unlucky, 111-3.
For Street End, Joe Goldbacher was 34 not out and Andrew Smith caught and bowled for 25.
In UKC’S next game, Brewster Surridge (38 not) and Vernon Duckett, both 26 not out, took them to 130-3 against Canterbury 2.
The in-form Ben Rutherford (27) top scored for Cantebrury but they lost by 47 runs.
In the Third Division, Chestfield and Sturry 2 kept their 100% records, beating Faversham and Gravesend 6ers 2 respectively.
On Saturday morning, there will be all to play for at the Kent Academy when Broadstairs and Chestfield, both undefeated, meet in the under-15s’ league. The winners will be champions.
After making 145-3, Chestfield shot out Whitstable for 35.
Canterbury broke their duck, beating St Lawrence and Highland Court by 13 runs. Results Juniors Chestfield 145-3 (B. Carpenter-friend 31not, E. Chandler 30not, F. Mcgrath 31, B. Wall 27not); Whitstable 35 (W. Vant 10; E. Burgess 2-9). Chestfield won by 110 runs. Canterbury 83-4 (J. Mcwittie 29not, G. Gooderham 18not); St Lawrence & Highland Court 70 (E. Glover 14, J. Baker 12). Canterbury won by 13 runs. Seniors Division 1 UKC 111-3 (J. Duckett 28not, D. Vernon 27not, Adil 23); Street End 110-4 (J. Goldbacher 34not, A. Smith 25; Adil 2-25). UKC won by one run. UKC 1 130-3 (B. Surridge 38not, J. Duckett 26not, D. Vernon 26ret, Afzal 18); Canterbury 2 83 (B. Rutherford 27, S. Hadlow 19, D. Goldsack 17; Adil 2-10, Afzal 2-33). UKC won by 47runs. Canterbury 1 105 (S. Burt 32, J. Macvicar 26); CCCU 1 89 (J. Wheeler 34, P. Semmens 22; J. Macvicar 2-23, B. Cooper 2-34). Canterbury won by 16 runs. CCCU 1 146-2 (T. Evans 30not, A., Griggs 28, J. Wheeler 25ret), P. Semmens 25not); Sturry 68-4 (D. Gentry 26not, M. Radley 21not). CCCU won by 78 runs. Gravesend 68-4 (S. Rana 19; J. Roche 2-14). CCCU2 69-5 (J. Roche 22not) CCCU2 won by one wicket. Division 2 UKC 2 106-3 (L. Hills 34not, S. Nicholson 19not); CCCU 3 107-4 (S. Joyce 49not, J. Harris 23, D. Harrison 23not). CCCU won by two wickets. Division 3 Faversham 91 (T. Bird 29, M. Parnell 16, C. Howe 16); Chestfield 96-2 (B. Carpenter-friend 25ret, J. Whitington 25ret, D. James 17not). Chestfield won by four wickets. Gravesend 6ers 2 48; Sturry 2 49-0 (S. Lamyman 26ret, F. Wrench 14not). Sturry won by six wickets. Fixtures: Saturday: Juniors 11.15am Chestfield v Broadstairs; 12.30pm Canterbury v Whitstable Sunday: Seniors Division 2 10.45am Gravesend 6ers 1 v Margate 2; noon Margate 1 v UKC 2; 1.15pm CCCU 3 v UKC 2 Division 1 2.30pm Gravesend v CCCU1; 3.45pm Street End 1 v CCCU1; 5pm CCCU2 v Canterbruy 2; 6.15pm Sturry 1 v CCCU2; 7.30pm Canterbury 1 v UKC 1.