A superb around performance from our lads saw us beat Essex League newcomers Bentley on Sunday. The victory sees us progress to the 2nd round where we entertain last year's assassins Hordon on the Hill on 9th May.
The sun shone most of the day on The Green but there was still a chill in the air.
Matching Green captain Riz Akram won the toss and decided to bat first on a dry, quick pitch. Our opening pair of Riz and Wardy set about the Bentley attack from the first ball and a steady run rate of 10 an over was achieved. After hitting a six into the pond, Riz tried a repeat shot but fell for 11 after he perfectly found a fielder waiting for the catch in the deep.
Wardy was joined by Peter Liversidge and their was no relenting in the score rate. They added a quick fire 50 before Peter was trapped LBW to Alavoine. Young Olly Hartnell joined Wardy and another 47 partnership in good time saw some excellent straight driving by Olly. After Olly went after one too many and was caught, Wardy and Sibbo added another 24 before Wardy mistimed a cut shot and was caught at deep gulley for a superb 47.
Sibbo and Green continued the assault, but with overs remaining and wickets falling there was a fear we wouldn't use all the 40 overs. Sibbo and Green swiftly followed by Lordy (never) out LBW. Spider repeated the dismissal and Bentley were in to our tail.
Enter Gaj and Jonny Taylor. With 200 on the board and still 10 overs to go, 300 should have been well within our grasp. But we'd lost too many wickets. Some sensible batting saw Gaj (13) and Jonny Taylor (40 not out) push to total up to a very respectable 262. With strong opposition, a fast outfield and small boundaries it was a guess as to whether that would be enough.
The Taylor boys opened the bowling and Bentley started in a similar fashion to Matching and it looked game on! The steady scoring Parmenter lost his opening partner Gordon to a quick straight one from Jonny but that bought to the crease the excellent Coleman. Coleman and Parmenter then produced a quick fire 91 partnership to really put some pressure on the Matching boys.
Enter the spinners! Initially the left arm guile of Lordy slowed the scoring rate and eventually Coleman fell, caught for a well-crafted 70. That wicket was needed! The strangle was now on and the introduction of off-spinner Sibbo continued to swing the match in Matching's favour. 3 wickets for Sibbo and 2 for Lordy wiped out the Bentley mid-order and their inning crumbled.
When Gaj came on the dismiss the opener Parmenter for a steady 55, Riz brought himself on to finish off the tail, taking 2 wickets. Bentley were bowled out for 78 in just 32.2 overs.
There was no obvious man of the match for Matching as was the style and around performance from the team. However Steve Ward's 47 and some superb keeping along with Sibbo's quick fire 32 and 3 wickets were the standout performances.
We now look forward to our return fixture against Horndon on the Hill on 9th May, hoping for more luck and success than last year. Hopefully home advantage will work for us and we'll be a step closer to Lords!!!