The sun shone on Snodland as our 2010 season got under way although after such a long winter, it's slightly worrying that one player still didn't turn out in clean whites. I never want to see the inside of that cricket bag.

The skipper won the toss, applying the 'change your mind in the air' theory of toss-calling as devised by Mr V. Reynolds. The Home team were asked to bat first on a pitch which looked much better than it played. To say the bounce was variable would be an understatement.

Jimmy Saville and Tim 'Monster' Ervine opened the bowling with two good spells, Jimmy going for less than 4 an over but unfortunately wicket-less and Monster bowled some quality away swing which their opening bat J. Cole struggled with early doors and edged one in Monsters first over to specialist slip fielder Dave 'Holly' Holden. It went to him at just the right height but his hands are as hard as uncut diamonds and Holly put it down. “I hope that isn't too expensive” said Holly. Monster took a bit of tap (something he experienced in Malta in 2004) in his last over which took the shine of what was a good swinging spell.

The first bowling change was KJ (Nick Warren) replacing Jimmy at the 'back gardens' end Bill Sanders came on for Monster at the 'Bell' end. I didn't make that up – I definitely heard the oppo refer to it as the Bell end. KJ got the breakthrough wicket with one of the best balls this corespondent has seen him bowl – starting just outside the off peg, the batsman played down the right line but the ball seamed 3 to 4 inches in at off stump, knocking it out of the ground. S Boston out for a tidy 25. Cole was riding his luck as he had at least 2 french cuts which diverted balls from middle stump to just past his leg stump frustrating KJ. That's not to detract from Coles innings which featured a number of quality shots and a stout defense against Billy's line and length spell. The next wicket was the first of three run outs by BSE. The batsmen went for a dodgy second run having never seen KJ's rocket arm in action – hard flat throw, C Knope diving for his crease, ball gathered and bails off in a flash – OUT! Billy Sanders was the man to get the resolute Cole in the end with his nagging line and length, Cole played over the top of a fuller straight delivery – bowled for a captains knock of 67. Holly was heard muttering “I'm glad that drop wasn't too expensive”.

Another bowling change brought Holly to the Bell end for some redemption. He duly absolved himself with a tidy spell of 20 for 1 off 5 overs of variety, even busting out his wrong'n on one occasion. He had D Richardson(17) out bowled. One of the Rutters came on at the other end. His spell of 5overs cost only 22 runs and he took the wicket of Greg Thursting who caused us much pain last year with his superb 127. Dave Bentley (who had been at gully) had free styled his way to a short third man and was under a thick edge and held the catch to joy of all who'd seen Greg bat last year. At 148-5 the skipper was hopeful of holding them to less than 200. G Knope would put paid to that with a swashbuckling 38 not out.

They say catches win matches, well more practice please. A drop from one of the Rutters and a cartoon comedy moment from three fielders who each left the same ball cost us dear. They all got further and further from the ball as the incident was discussed in the pub. The final 5 batsmen scored 51 collectively and G Knope got 38 of them. Snodland posted 216 all out.

After a delicious tea, BSE openers Reynolds and Bentley padded up (quite some time after tea actually) and set about the target of roughly 5 an over. Unfortunately this was to be closer to 2 an over and would remain so throughout the innings. Tight line bowling and timing issues meant runs were scarce. Maybe an additional 12 weeks of nets next winter? Vinny was first to go caught off the bowling of R. Clarkson. Jimmy Saville went to the crease promising to be a responsible number 3. After nearly taking out a young family on the boundary with a lovely shot over the top he was out stumped dragging his back foot pushing hard at one back of a length from Greg Thursting. The skipper (with his new along the carpet head on) took the crease and after one big swish and miss in the first over he faced, wound his neck in and was more watchful of Thurstings left arm spinners. Thursting came off a longer run for one over and was promptly dispatched for a couple of 4s. He went back to left arm orthodox and Manderson was caught at gully frustratingly in the final over of Thurstings spell. His final analysis was a superb 8-3-11-2. None of the Snodland attack went for more than 4 an over which should be every bowlers target at this level. Wickets fell at steady intervals and our old friend 'Extras' top scored with 30. But what of Dave Bentley? I hear you ask. Dave took 'stubborn' to a whole new level scoring at just 0.35 an over. Geoffrey Boycott was on the phone saying “My old Mother could score quicker than that!” Maybe so Geoffrey but its about the rate you scored at off Holding. Jamie Holder played for his average seeing out a few overs for 4 runs and some red ink and we saw out 40 overs for just 117.

Well Played Snodders – see you next year.

BSE Man o' Match – V. Reynolds

Highlights – We have a game next Saturday.