THE fortunes of Wingham’s First Grade Cricket team did not improve last Saturday after suffering dual T20 losses to Old Bar and United. Both matches were played at Chatham where the wicket was quite slow and not conducive to stroke-play.

Wingham batted first in the match against Old Bar but failed to capitalize on a 62 run opening stand by captain Matt Essery and Wayne Smoothy, collapsing to be all out 124 in the 18th over. Essery was in fine form and top scored with 44, hitting six boundaries, whilst was run out for 25. Only Brock (10) and Robbie Hynes (14) made double figures from then on. There were three run outs. 

Joe Hinton was Old Bars leading wicket taker with 3/34 whilst Danial Stone claimed 2/21 and Anthony Turner 2/26.

Wingham was on top early in the Old Bar innings thanks mainly to a fine spell from Steve Allwood (1/10 off 4). Polson (12) Rees (12) and Carter (1) were all out, but Ben Cole took advantage of an early let-off to add 31 before being caught off Mick Stinson. Turner and Stone then joined in a 44 run partnership which brought Old Bar within site of victory, when Turner became Scott Saxby’s third wicket after making 30. Stone was unbeaten on 30 when victory was sealed, five wickets down and one over to spare.

Saxby claimed 3/26, Allwood 1/10 and Stinson 1/9.

Wingham decided to bowl first against United but failed to take a wicket until the 12th over as Matt Collier and Jackson Witts put on 85 first up. Witts was first to go when run out by Mitch Niven for 61. He hit nine fours and a six. United's momentum slowed when Campbell (1) was stumped off Niven’s first ball and Collier was caught off Essery for 21. Saxby bowled Kennewell for six and Kliendienst dismissed Burley for seven to have United 5/119 after 18. Harper made 21 before Saxby again hit the stumps, likewise for Pinn, and the innings ended on 7/135.

Saxby with 3/21, Niven 1/11, Essery 1/30 and Kliendienst 1/30 were the wicket takers.

Brock Hynes was promoted to open with Essery but disaster struck when he was run out without facing a ball in the first over. Essery and Ryan Morris consolidated with a 48 run stand when Essery was caught after a fine 28. But then Stinson (7), Hynes (1), Morris (16) and Saxby (0) fell in quick succession as Wingham slumped to 6/64. Niven (7) and Smoothy added 15, then Ryan Williams made nine, Kliendienst a golden duck  before Allwood denied Witts a hat-trick. Smoothy was last out for 10, caught and bowled Harper with Wingham 42 runs shy.

Ricky Campbell claimed 3/16, Witts 2/1, Gilfillan 2/18 and Harper 1/17 for United.