Written by Stephen Moriarty

Despite bad traffic in Rochester, this game got off to a prompt start in bright sunshine at High Halstow’s ground on Christmas Lane, in the heart of Dickens’ "Great Expectations" country.

HBBH won the toss and chose to bowl. The close-set boundary rope and close-cropped outfield could not be viewed by a fielding side with anything but concern, and it was difficult not to fear a dispiritingly brutal game was in the offing. The question could only be, it seemed, which side was going to score the most fours and sixes to win the game, and so it proved.

HBBH got off to a good if somewhat untidy start in the first two overs, few runs being scored and culminating in the wicket of HH’s number 2 bat, very well caught at extra-cover by Griffin from the bowling of Connop T. Hutton’s second over saw the first four of the game, from the bat of HH’s number 1. Connop T.’s second saw another four from the bat, this time from HH’s number 3 - a good shot through extra-cover.

Conserving his openers, Moriarty brought on Herridge for the fifth over. Only two runs were scored from the bat from the six balls, an achievement for any fielding side on this pitch. The next over, Jack’s first for HBBH, proved to be the beginning of an economical spell that included a wicket-maiden, when HH’s number 1’s off-stump was struck by a yorker from Jack after five excellent deliveries. This was an important wicket, as this batter had struck a six and a four in the previous over.

Moriarty’s own spell, of leg-spin, began with four “dot” balls; but any error on this ground was a gift to the batter, and Moriarty saw three balls from his two-over spell struck ruthlessly for four on the on-side by HH’s number 3.

Bunker and Griffin replaced Jack and Moriarty. Both did well, conceding only singles, apart from one fine cover-drive for four by HH’s number 5 (HH’s number 3 having retired having scored 25 runs). HH’s number 4 finally succumbed to Griffin’s sustained accuracy when another fine delivery neatly whisked off one of his bails. Griffin was unlucky not to get another wicket in the same over when HH’s number 6 top-edged a ball that looped tantalisingly over Ethan the keeper’s head, just out of reach.

Benji, Henry and Edward now each came on to do their bit. Benji saw only three singles scored from his good-length cameo. Henry’s over culminated in the running-out of HH’s number 6 when HH’s batters underestimated Herridge and Moriarty in the field and Ethan behind the stumps. Like Moriarty, despite bowling very well indeed, Edward saw any slight miscalibration of his spin punished by boundaries, including a six that brought about the retirement of HH’s number 5. Nevertheless, after 19 overs on a pitch that was a gift to the batting team, HH had only scored 115.

Hutton’s final over saw them add only three runs to finish on 118 for the loss of 4 wickets. In retrospect, HBBH had made a reasonable job of containing HH's batters. Special mention in the field goes to Connop T., Henry, Jack, Edward, Griffin and Edward.

The turn of day towards night had now come. The shadows of the oaks on the north-west side of HH's ground had grown long and the breeze blustery enough to turn over in shimmering waves the feathery leaves of the ash trees on the north-east side.

HBBH would have to score at nearly six an over to win. Whilst, looking at the batting available to HBBH, there was plenty of reason to feel confident about achieving this, there was no room for complacency.

However, Moriarty struck the first ball of the innings to the square-leg boundary, defended two good balls adroitly and next took a single behind square. Herridge, facing his first ball, played an attractive glance to long-on for another "one". Moriarty got another from the last ball of the first over: seven runs from the first six balls, a good start, but one that would have to be sustained.

Moriarty, retaining the strike, lofted the second ball of HH's second over to midwicket and was very lucky to be dropped by the fielder there. However, three singles and a lovely four from Herridge kept the run rate for HBBH above target; indeed in the following overs, HBBH were able to pick up the pace, taking nine runs each from the third and fourth overs, including two more fours from Herridge and a six for Moriarty over square-leg. Ten runs came from the fifth: two more fours and a single from Herridge bringing his retirement on 25.

Jack played himself in carefully, but whopped a four to long-off with only his seventh ball batting for HBBH; however, the run rate was slower until the ninth over when Moriarty and Jack ran four good singles and Moriarty drove through long-off for four. Jack was unfortunately out caught by the wicketkeeper early in the tenth and the HBBH camp was further distressed to see Connop T. run out after facing only one ball: well-hit to extra-cover for a single, the subsequent overthrow tempting a further, unsuccessful, attempt at a run.

Although unsettling for HBBH, this brought the on-form Hutton to the crease, soon to be joined by the similarly redoubtable Bunker when Moriarty pulled through midwicket for a "one-bounce" four that forced his retirement on 28. Bunker hit a four to long-leg from her third ball to herald what proved to be a match-winning partnership. Despite being hit on the helmet and the abdomen by high balls, Hutton unflinchingly scored 18 runs from only 11 "legal" deliveries, including three fine fours in a row in the thirteenth over. Bunker and Hutton also ran well between the stumps, and Bunker hit one more four, masterfully waiting for a slow ball to bounce, such that she could smash it behind square on the leg-side. After all this, it was something of an anti-climax that the winning runs came in singles and finally a bye, but perhaps this manner of victory also showed Bunker and Hutton's determination to win above all else.

HBBH finished on 119 for 2 from only 14 overs and 4 balls.

In the last analysis, HBBH's batting had been too strong for HH, who nevertheless bowled well. Both sides struggled to prevent boundaries with the rope so close to the creases. A clear win for HBBH.