Rolfe Steadies the Ship as Addington Village Triumphs Over Catford and Cyphers 2nd xI

In a display of tenacity and composure, Addington Village CC's 1st XI clinched a hard-fought victory against Catford and Cyphers CC's 2nd XI in their Kent Cricket League - Division 6 Spitfire clash. On a day where bowlers dominated, Alex Rolfe’s patient unbeaten 47 anchored Addington Village to a five-wicket win.

Winning the toss, Addington Village opted to field, a decision vindicated by a disciplined bowling performance. Catford and Cyphers struggled to find momentum against a probing attack. Adam Dooley led the charge with 3 for 13 from his 9 overs, supported ably by George Culpeck and Jackson Todman, who picked up two wickets each.

Catford’s innings began on a promising note with Assad Mahmood (24) and Samuel Gold (24) laying a decent foundation. However, once the openers fell, the middle order faltered. Despite a valiant 28 from Sachit Kc, wickets fell at regular intervals, and Catford could only muster 154 for 9 in their allotted 45 overs. Extras played a significant role, contributing 24 runs, highlighting a lack of discipline in the Addington bowling attack.

Chasing a modest total, Addington's innings was far from straightforward. Samuel Gold wreaked havoc with the new ball, taking 3 for 33 and reducing Addington to 24 for 3. The early blows included the prized wickets of James Worrall and the dangerous Chris Slater. When Jackson Todman fell without scoring, the home side was in a precarious position.

Enter Alex Rolfe. His innings, a masterclass in restraint and shot selection, stabilized the chase. Rolfe found an able ally in Jack Webb, who contributed a valuable 26 before falling to Pranay Singh. Their partnership of 72 turned the tide, and by the time Webb was caught and bowled, Addington was on the cusp of victory.

Liam Budd (8 not out) joined Rolfe to see the hosts home in the 37th over, finishing on 157 for 5. The win, secured with 8.4 overs to spare, earned Addington 18 points, reinforcing their strong standing in the league.

This contest was a testament to the importance of experience and temperament in cricket. Rolfe’s innings, painstakingly compiled over 98 balls, demonstrated the value of a calm head amidst chaos. In contrast, Catford and Cyphers will rue their inability to capitalize on early breakthroughs, left to ponder what might have been had they supported their bowlers better with the bat.