Downham & Bellingham 197 lost to Cowdrey 199-3 by 7 wkts
By Stuart Clarke
COWDREY returned to the top of Kent League Division Four with impressive performances by their pace attack.
Anthony Mills returned as Cowdrey captain but proceeded to lose his sixth toss of the season and the visitors chose to bat first.
Downham got off to a cautious start with only 16 runs coming off the first 10 overs bowled by Chris Fenwick and Thom Brown.
Ryan Addison came on to make a breakthrough and the evergreen Glen Warner also took a wicket, both batsmen chipping to mid-off.
Downham & Bellingham started to fashion a good partnership between opener Dave Powell and overseas player Ryan Turner and they moved the total up to 120 for 2.
But Brown had the latter well caught by wicketkeeper Jack Mutch standing up to the stumps for 42 off only 40 balls.
Ashley Borella then removed opener Powell for 51 which opened up the middle order.
Nick Farr, returning from Durham University, produced a spell of accurate seam bowling and using all of his 6ft 6in frame he finished the innings off with 4 for 30.
His last six overs cost only six runs as Downham & Bellingham were dismissed for 197.
Cowdrey’s Australian import Borella reached his fifty off just 48 balls but fell two deliveries later to a catch at the second attempt.
However, Barney Scott was joined by Ryan Addison and both batsmen rarely looked in trouble. With the finish line in sight the latter was dismissed for a workmanlike 40.
Scott had played a match-winning innings and fittingly hit the winning runs to remain unbeaten on 73 from 116 balls with 11 fours and a six as Cowdrey reached their target on 199 for 3 with 10 overs to spare.
With Catford Wanderers losing to High Halstow, Cowdrey again moved to the top of Kent League Division Four.
They travel to in-form Rainham on Saturday [June 30] with the latter sitting in fourth place having won four games on the bounce.
PICTURE: HIGH HOPES: Barney Scott saw Cowdrey to victory
