Kent Under 11 Boys started their summer County programme with a match against Essex having had 2 warm up games against Wellesley School and St Lawrence and Highland Court CC.

Losing the toss, Kent were then inserted by Essex on a pitch that had been affected by overnight rain and in conditions that were to prove quite difficult. However openers Nathan Baxter [49] and Lewis Bedford [61] applied themselves well to the task in hand building steadily so that at the halfway stage 91 runs had been scored without the loss of a wicket.

In difficult conditions this was an excellent achievement with Lewis Bedford punishing the bad ball well during his debut half century.

The good work was carried on by Ralph Taylor [23*] who played, stylishly and sensibly in maintaining the good work aided by some middle order hitting from Jack Prideaux, [14] and some solid batting from Oliver Robinson [12] which allowed Kent to close their 45 overs on 199 for 4. A good effort in difficult conditions.

Kent then started with 2 wickets in the first 3 overs, dismissing both the Essex openers. However Essex then produced a very solid display from their No 3 and 4 batsmen who then proceeded to put on a century stand aided by some poor bowling and fielding from the Kent side.  As Essex launched an attack on the target both Ralph Taylor [the only exception to the above]  3-23 and Andrew Fargie 3- 22 picked up some late wickets as the game ended in a draw.

Team:

• Nathan Baxter
• Ralph Taylor
• Lewis Bedford
• Oliver Robinson
• Jack Prideaux
• Tyler Dockwray
• Richard Heywood
• Jan Gray
• Andrew Fargie
• Owen Tucker
• Joe Shamash
• Bill Cain