For the second time this season, Johan Malcolm systematically dismantled Blackheath’s much-vaunted attack as Beckenham handed out a thoroughly comprehensive thrashing to the promotion favourites to the tune of 8 wickets. For a change, the threatened rain didn’t spoil Beckenham’s joy as the match had finished by the time it arrived!
Visiting skipper Chris Willetts won the toss and opted for first use of a track clearly showing signs of the unsettled weather during the week. Zobie Sharif and Aaron Alley started brightly enough although Will MacVicar found some movement and Raza Ali Dar some turn. It was MacVicar who made the initial breach when he disturbed Sharif’s stumps and then Ashley Forde, fit again after injury, began an excellent spell as he replaced Ali Dar. Bowling at just the right pace for the wicket, Forde made the occasional ball stop and rise disconcertingly as he opened his account by bowling Alley at 58. With Alex Senn settling in and playing some nice shots, Forde struck again to remove Dipayan Paul to leave the visitors on 64-3.
Johan Malcolm replaced MacVicar and induced a firm clip from Senn into the safe hands of skipper Chris Isles. Forde then bowled Willetts to leave Heath struggling on 85-5 leaving Jack Ford and Jahid Ahmed the huge task of trying to salvage the innings. With Ali Dar back in the attack, theirs looked a hopeless task as Beckenham’s hugely popular Pakistani began to sweep through the remainder of the innings. Before the final rites were administered, 14-year old quickie James Jones announced his arrival with a tidy little spell that saw his first victim in James Hands caught behind by Duncan Spencer who finished a trademark solid display with three catches and a stumping. Blackheath’s final total of 125 was due to a splendid display by all the home bowlers with Ali Dar (3-21) and Forde (3-32) the principal contributors.
Beckenham’s reply began solidly against Ruel Brathwaite and Jahid Ahmed who, despite their pace through the air, seemed to be too quick for the wicket and failed to get the same response as had MacVicar and Forde. MacVicar was first to depart having launched Ahmed for a big six over mid-wicket, had his stumps rearranged next ball through a loose shot. Isles was also guilty as he launched Hands into the safe hands of Brathwaite at long-on. At 29-2, Foxgrove was treated to another Johan Malcolm master class as he quickly got off the mark with two rasping fours from Ahmed. With Ali Dar adding polished support, Malcolm began to batter the visiting attack, singling out the hapless Hands for more of the treatment he meted out at the Rectory Field. He raced to 50 in 44 deliveries which effectively killed the game as a contest as Beckenham swept home by 8 wickets with Malcolm rampant on 63 and Ali Dar 29.