After taking a hammering at newly promoted West Farleigh on the first league weekend, Meopham 2nd XI bounced back to edge a narrow victory against Weald CC, who were relegated from division 3 in 2018.
Winning the toss and batting, Meopham lost early wickets, plus no.3 batsman James Fotheringham who retired hurt after facing just 2 balls. A recovery of sorts was built by Tom Fox and Harvey Luckett who added 34 for the 4th wicket. When Fox fell for a hard fought but classy 27, a flurry of wickets fell and the hosts looked doomed at 88-8. Enter the returning Fotheringham aided by a runner, and 15 year old Pierce Sinden, making his senior league debut. These two added an invaluable 50 for the 9th wicket, Fotheringham with 24 not out, and Sinden playing an innings of great technique and application scored 16. Meopham all out for 138.
A heavy spell of rain between innings livened up the wicket and Weald got off to a steady start before first change bowler Tom Fox broke the opening partnership. Brad Millbank (2-20) helped slow the run rate with his little darts, and at 73-3 after 20 overs the game was in the balance. Enter again young Pierce Sinden, on as 4th change, who bowled with maturity and an unerring line and length, who took 4 wickets from 6 overs for only 18 runs. Weald were inching towards their target before a superb one stump run out from Harvey Luckett, and the final rites were administered by Tom Fox who clean bowled the last two batsmen to finish with figures of 8.3 overs, 3 wickets for 13 runs. Weald 128 all out.
Great entertainment played in front of a capacity crowd at the Green.