Festival week off to a brilliant start

The Shepway Schools Partnership Kwik Cricket Finals took place today on the hottest day at Sibton Park for two years.

A gentle breeze in the morning had disappeared by 3:45 when the final between Elham and Sandgate got off to an edgy start, with Elham batting and losing two wickets in Kwik succession. As the other games finished a crowd gathered around the game, watching the score mount on the big scorebox. The first innings switchbacked between batters and fielders with some huge hitting resulting in a target of 214 for Sandgate. Once again quick wickets set the score back into the 190's as the onlookers generated some pretty impressive limited overs-type crowd noise.

Into the last over, with Sibton's own Josh Woodgate White and Jack Woodward at the crease and three needed to win. Two singles and a two took Sandgate past the Elham total and Josh showed the nouse of an old pro as he played three successive defensive shots to avoid losing runs, winning the tournament for Sandgate.

The event was the usual triumph of organisation - for which we can take no credit - merely a reminder of how lucky we are to have Nell Young in our part of the county and standard of cricket in these festivals is very high these days.

All the school teams produced very good moments and are to be congratulated on the job they are doing. It was particularly gratifying to see our own Lyminge Primary School reach the semis this year, winning the play-off and finishing third. As a club, we enjoyed hosting the Finals tremendously and look forward to seeing you all again.

Wet Wicket