Herongate
We have never met before
Hayes
We have never met before
Belhus
Played 2 Won 2
Crusaders won each of last years meetings fairly comfortably. Mike took 4 wickets in the opener and then partnered Nita in an unbeaten stand of 54 for the 6th wicket which took us to victory. Slapdash took centre stage in the midweek fixture, rattling 47 from 37 balls and then finishing proceedings with the final wicket. Danglers took 4 wickets and Wajih made an unbeaten 60.
Minster-on-Sea
Played 6 Won 3 Tied 1 Lost 2
We have played Minster since 'picking them up' through the fixture bureau in 2001, with our most recent game finishing in a tie, after we almost plucked defeat from the jaws of certain victory. That normally so cautious of skippers' Grant Reynolds, set some imaginative fields, to ensure a nail-biting finish. Most memorable amongst our victories was the 2002 game, when Spud and Danglers put on an unbeaten Club record 74 for the 9th wicket to steal an improbable victory. 2004 saw our most comprehensive victory, with Wajih and Alan Edwards knocking off the victory target without a wicket falling.
Wajih has most runs with 123 and Danglers has taken 9 wickets.
Leigh
Played 3 Won 2 Drawn 0 Lost 1
On one of the prettiest and smallest grounds on the circuit it is important to put runs on the board. We did so in style on our first visit and were able to overhaul a modest Leigh score in 2005. Leigh posted their first victory last season, as we crumbled chasing 200+.
Chand has most runs, including a fifty and Gord returned 4-15 to be our most threatening bowler - it's not often you see that.
Dartfordians
Played 3 Won 3 Drawn 0 Lost 0
Crusaders have won all of our three meetings with Dartfordians. The games are generally low scoring, with tight bowling the key to success. Richard was our most dominant batter, with Timmo leading wicket taker with 5. Sadly this fixture's most memorable moment appears to be Spud's dropped wicket-keeper catch.
Lenham
Played 1 Won 1 Drawn 0 Lost 0
Our only meeting with Lenham was two seasons ago, when a record 177 stand for the 2nd wicket between Richard Carr and Ralph Dixon set Crusaders on the way to a daunting target of 253-2. Lenham made a decent fist of their response, finishing on 200 all out with Spud 4-19 and Timmo 3-51 the main architects of their demise.
Catford Wanderers
Played 10 Won 6 Drawn 3 Lost 1
Crusaders hold the upper hand in games against Catford, with the last three being won by a single run on two occasions and only 5 runs on the other. These fixtures have not been without incident - car theft, 12 man games, arithmetical irregularities, steel bands to name a few.
Gordon has scored 150 runs at 30 per innings and Spud averages 116, having only been dismissed once. The Big Oz has the Club's only century, making 104* in the drawn game of 2001.
With the ball Mike's 3-17 last year put him at the top, with Spud having taken most wickets;22 at 10.86 apiece.
Blue Bell Hill
Played 18 Won 7 Drawn 6 Lost 5
Since our first meeting in 1990, games against BBH have always been keenly contested, with Crusaders just about holding the upper hand. Gordon has over 300 runs at Common Road and Danglers has three five wicket hauls in his overall tally of 31 wickets. Cricket has been rather over-shadowed by the infamous Burham Four incident, which threatened the very existence of the club. Those four know who they are and one knows just how lonely patrolling that bottom boundary can be.
Theydon Bois
Last year was our first visit to Theydon Bois and was also the last appearance of The Big Oz. Crusaders got the better of our hosts due to an expansive knock from Johnny Walker. Manjit followed up with an additional three wickets, joining with Spud (4-4) in skittling our opponents.
Key Player
Manjit Singh a danger with bat, ball and bottle.
Magic Moment
A forlorn Richard - skipper for the day - surveying the ground at the end of play, perhaps realising all good things must come to an end.
SR & Kenley
We have never met
Downham & Bellingham
Played 3 Won 1 Drawn 0 Lost 2
Last year was the first time we have got the better of our Kent League opponents, dismiising them for 177, with Mike taking 3-45 and Spud bowling a tight eight over spell of 1-10, before an unbeaten fifty from Chand guided us to victory in the final over. Our first two visits had both ended in defeats, when on each occasion we had performed with the ball, but were unable to match it with the bat.
Key Players
Batting - Chand averages 39 combined with a thorny disposition.
Bowling -Mike has 5 wickets at a price and Spud 4 with good economy.
Magic moment
Finally getting the winning runs last year, after it appeared that we would cruise to victory.
Hurst Green
Played 11 Won 4 Drawn 5 Lost 2
Since we first met in 1995, through a last minute bureau fixture, Crusaders have had slightly the better of the annual trip down the A21. It is always a belting batting track, hence the amount of draws. Last year we endured a torrid time at the hands of Hurst Green's opener, who dispatched the ball to all parts, amassing an unbeaten 191, but honours still ended even, with Crusaders comfortably batting out the draw. Arguably the best of our five wins came in 2001. Hurst Green batting first, had been dismissed for 220, with Spud spinning his way to 7-50. Crusaders response was built on a ton opening partnership from Gord (40) and The Oz. After a little mid-innings collapse Spud (34*) joined Richard to knock off the runs with 2 balls to spare, Rich finishing unbeaten on 108.
Key Players
Batting
Wajih has two fifties in three visits and Spud and Danglers have scored consistently
Bowling
Goulash tops the averages, with Spud leading wicket taker
Magic moment
Every time their opener rocked back and launched Danglers over the pavilion.
Shootershillians
We have never met
Fulbeck and Caythorpe
We have never met
Orpington
Played 4 Won 3 Drawn 0 Lost 1
Our first meeting with Orpington in 2003 was probably one our best performances in recent season's. Set 220 for victory in 40 overs we scrambled home with 3 balls to spare, with excellent contributions from The Oz and Basil (ton stand for opening wicket) and a fine spell with the ball from Darth Clements. The following year we batted first, with a last wicket stand of 35 between Spud and Goulash taking us to a respectable 178. Simon completed a good performance with two for 18 as we restricted Orpington to 161-9. Two years ago we again won after batting first, before being comprehensively defeated last year as Orpington gained revenge.
Key Players
Batting and Bowling - Wajih 75 runs and 2 wickets
Magic Moment
Grant guiding us home in 2003.
Old Colfeians
We have met eight times, since our paths first crossed in 1999, with Crusaders recording five consecutive wins after drawing the first three fixtures. The 2001 fixture featured a century opening stand between The Oz and Gordy, as we fell just short of our target, but in 2002 we were left clinging on for the draw, with Whale and Moyse batting out time, after the middle order performed the Bermuda Triangle. Since 2003 we have won all games relatively comfortably, with The Oz helping himself to four fifties in an aggregate score of 350. Spud has taken 17 wickets and Danglers has our only 5 wicket haul.
Key players
Batting - No Richard - it's up to someone new to score the runs
Bowling - Spud to weave his magic ?
Magic Moment
Spud dismissing their extremely long-named Sri Lankan 'A' player, just as he appeared to be winning the game for them single-handed.
Linden Park
We have met three times, drawing twice and winning last year's fixture. Our first meeting was a good example of all that can be wrong with Sunday cricket. Linden Park fully exercised their right to bat for as long as they liked, eventually declaring on 162 for 8 from a mammoth 55 overs. They then sent down just 29 in reply, with our gallant run chase falling 3 runs short.
Two years ago we again shared the spoils.After we had set 176, including a turgid century partnership between Timms and Channa, a twelve a-side game ended with Linden Park clinging on at 112-10 in a forlorn chase.
Last year we finally got the win we deserved, chasing down Linden Park's 139, with Chand and Wajih starring with the bat.
Key Players
Wajih with the bat Mike with the ball.
Magic Moment
Linden Park's generous declaration, followed by Chand slashing the opening ball of our response over extra cover for six.
Belhus
Sunday's fixture will be our first visit to the North Stifford ground of Belhus.
West Peckham
Full Record
Played 2 Won 0 Drawn 2 Lost 0
We have only met twice, with Crusaders having the better of two draws. In 2005, chasing only 133 for victory we were denied by rain when well set. Last year our hosts were teetering at 135-7 at the close.
Key Player
Chand with bat and Manjit with ball.
Magic moment
Every time one of the lovely beers in the Swan are dispensed.
Belvedere
Full Record
Played 3 Won 1 Drawn 0 Lost 2
Crusaders made their first visit to Belvedere's Woolwich Road ground on July 1st 1984. A devastating return of 6-44 by 'Flash' Hockley restricted our hosts to 121 and solid batting from Hockley (27), Timms (34) and Moyse (21*) ensured a comfortable seven wicket victory.
We didn't meet again until 1993 when Belvedere gained revenge, winning another low-scoring encounter. Two wickets apiece from Timms, Whale, Wilsdon and Martin bowled Belvedere out for 119, but only Gordy (20) got going with the bat and we fell 27 runs short.
The following year we were soundly beaten, with Belvedere rattling up 186-2 and Crusaders, deprived of the injured Darkie Paine and Weepy Wilsdon, replying with only 112. Bill Webb (22), Gordy (16) and LSC Clements (25*) were the main contributors with the bat.
Key Player
Gordy Schultz averaging 18 with the bat is the best of a pretty bad bunch
Magic moments
None that I can recall
Bexleyheath
Full Record
Played 12 Won 7 Drawn 1 Lost 4
Our first meeting in 1997 ended with honours even, as we finished ten runs short with two wickets intact in a time game. In September 2001 an unbeaten stand of 138 between Centurion Timms and The Oz ensured a comfortable 7 wicket victory. The following June, chasing 156 from 40 overs, an unbroken partnership of 95 between Spud and Danglers took us to victory from the precarious position of 65-6. Later that season Richard and Glen gave a repeat performance, with The Oz making a then Club record 143*, as we racked up 239-5 from our alotted 40 overs. 2005 saw us brought down to earth with a bump, as our hosts skittled us for 99 and romped to victory.
Key Player
Darren Moyse averaging over 50 (that's with the bat) and having taken 14 wickets.
Magic moments
Richard's brutal 143* and Spud Whale taking 5 outfield catches (Club Record)
Old Wilsonians
Full Record
Played 5 Won 2 Drawn 2 Lost 1
Crusaders first played at Old Wilsonians in the 2001 season and lost emphatically by 103 runs. We drank enough to earn a recall the following year, having the better of a drawn game and gained our first victory in 2003, when our hosts were hustled out for 128 in reply to our 174-8. Bill Webb led us to victory in 2004, with Matt Sully (debut) 44* and Slack Timms 11* steering us past The Old Boys target of 149. The unlikely destroyers with the ball were PRV Burr 5-37 and Guyana's finest 4-32. In 2005 having been hurried out for only 116, Wilsonians made a 'Pigs Ear' of the chase finishing the day on 116-3.
Key Player
Simon Burr with 8 wickets and an average of 40 with the bat appears to be our key man in this fixture - well there's food for thought.
Magic moment
Chris Wilsdon bowling Hermantha Alles (Sri Lankan overseas player) with one that kept a little low.