On a perfect day for bowling, with heavy cloud cover, a nice sea breeze and the added bonus of sea mist hanging over the ground, Manning captain Tom Burley called tails correctly and sent Hastings into bat.

Manning were coming off a shock loss to Hastings which cost them hosting the final, so were fired up to win.

Nayden Moriarty and Sam Whitbread opened the attack with Whitbread  bowling two maidens first up. Burley replaced Moriarty and had Jack Dobbyns caught behind by Zac Withers in his second over for 3. Hastings were 1/20 off seven overs.

Whitbread and Burley continued to apply pressure to the Hastings batsmen bowling excellent line and length backed up with a seven/two field. Burley had C Adlum out caught by Whitbread for 9, leaving Hastings 2/31 off 13. Whitbread bowled one of his best spells and was too good for the Hastings batsmen. He had several chances fall just short of fielders but applied pressure. After six overs his figures were 0/3.

Brodie Guppy, 16, from Wingham had Fraser Carrol caught at slip by Jay Withers for 5 in his second over, leaving Hastings 3/39 at drinks. Guppy struck again first over after drinks getting the big wicket of Kade Fens out caught by Hayden Essery for a duck. Fens top scored with 52 not out the previous game. Jordi Gilfillan was introduced into the attack. Hastings captain Liam Coelho hit him for a six over square leg in Gilfillan’s third over bringing up Hasting’s first boundary of the game in 23rd over. Gilfillan then bowled Coelho middle stump for 12 with Hastings struggling at 5/52.

Guppy then had Dan Pretty out caught at third slip by Burley for 7. Big hard hitting Sam Johnson was caught by Whitbread for 2 and after 25 overs Hastings were 7/54.

Gilfillan cleaned up the tail as Hastings crashed to be all out for 71 in 31 overs. Gilfillan led the way 5/22 from seven overs with Guppy taking 3/3 (6), Burley 2/20 (7), Whitbread 0/3 (6) and Moriarty 0/22 (5).

With an hour’s play left before lunch Zac Withers and big hitting Sam Whitbread opened the innings. Withers was out bowled for 5 by Kyle Blanch with a huge inswinger leaving Manning 1/8 off two overs. Whitbread was controversially run out for 6 when it appeared he was safe while Harry Clark was dismissed for 7. Jay Withers was dismissed off Sam Johnson’s bowling, leaving Manning 4/32 in the 13th over. Manning were 4/36 at lunch.

After the break Burley and Liam Simpson worked to knock the ball around and run down the total. Both batted well and no further chances given with bad balls dispatched. Manning overhauled the total in the 21st over finishing 4/72. Simpson top scored with 22 not out while Burley was 18 not out.

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