Matt Dennington

Title hopefuls were lucky, admits captain Butterfill

Bromley captain James Butterfill praised his bowlers, but admitted his side were lucky to emerge from Bickley Park with a win on Saturday.

The visitors, who are reigning champions in the Premier Division, were keen to rebound from the previous week’s thrashing at the hands of Blackheath - where they managed to score just 80 runs.

Butterfill chose to bat first in an effort to get the performance out of their system, although their score fell short of his projected total of 250.

“We had some work to do as we weren’t at our best the week before, but sometimes you get days like that in sport,” said the skipper.

“As a side, we rarely get bowled out for a total like we did against Blackheath. Saturday was about righting the wrongs as a side.

“A par score would have been around 250 and we should have got closer to that, but at 140-4 it could have gone either way for us, so I’m pleased.”

Butterfill opened the innings with a brisk score of 33, but Matthew Dennnington (59) and Sadiq Hassan (30) put on a partnership of 57 which steadied the ship in the middle order.

Stephen Bailes (26) helped the team get over 200, while Tom Mees added a final flourish with 10 from four balls at number 11.

Bickley, who are currently bottom of the Premier Division, found themselves 36-3 in reply as Mees and Ricaldo Anderson bowled a miserly opening spell, but Richard Clinton (57) and Ben Fulton (80 not out) batted confidently on a good wicket and helped the side to 127-3.

Clinton and skipper Chris Coulson (five) then fell in quick succession, but Phil Browning helped regain the momentum as Park looked to be cruising towards the total at 193-5.

This prompted Butterfill to bring back Mees and Anderson, who stemmed the tide and removed Browning for 30, before the captain took three quick wickets to clean up the tail end and record a 36-run victory which had not looked likely an hour earlier.

“They were running away with the game at 120-3,” admitted a relieved Butterfill.

“This year though there is a much better standard of club play in the league though.

“Ricaldo and Tom are very good bowlers at club level and difficult to hit.

“I brought them back to bowl a spell and it worked.”

He added: “Personally, I just keep finding ways to get out. I’ve made 22, 20 and 30 now this year, but I’m reasonably happy with my form.

“We got a fifty and a couple of thirties on Saturday, but we need someone to go on and get match-winning scores so that the team can start getting scores of 270, 280 or 290.”

The win took Bromley to fourth in the league and they host second-placed Lordswood this weekend.

“Carl Greenidge is aching a little bit, but he should be fine,” said Butterfill.

“We’re a young side so hopefully we’ll be able to keep the same squad of 12 or 13 for most of the season.

“Lordswood have started well too and it looks like being a tough league this year.”