Weekly Round Up

Defeats for both the unbeaten sides in Division One, opens up the title contest. In Division Two, West Bergholt make it two from two, Great Waltham and Eight Ash Green are off to a winning starts. In the T20, champions Coggeshall open up with a comprehensive win over Galleywood.

Division 1

Sudbury despite their defeat at Witham are the leaders of Division 1, having claimed nine points in an exciting game. Sudbury won the toss and elected to bat, and with contributions throughout the order posted a solid 218 for 5. Usama Ashfaq (43), and an unbroken sixth wicket between Darren Batch (29no) and Jonathan Amos (48no) getting then to the score. Paul Bellehewe was the most successful of the Witham bowlers with 2 for 30.
In reply, Ben Tinham (33) and Christopher Garrard (78) set up the run chase, but with wickets falling at inopportune moments in the game, the home side were dependent on a knock of 55 from Onke Nyaku to get them close to the target. Charles Thomas (2 for 55) and Jonathan Amos (4 for 55) dismissed both the fifty makers, as Witham eventually got home with two wickets and three balls to spare.

Halstead also lost their unbeaten tag, following a 103 run defeat at Springfield. Batting first after winning the toss the home side posted 234 for 5 against the nine men visitors. Skipper James Gooday (67) leading the top order, before an unbroken stand for fifth wicket between Lee Brooks (85no) and Callum Eva (42no) got them up to their total. Joe Morris with 2 for 50, was the most successful Halstead bowler.
In reply Halstead were quickly reduced to 16 for 4, with Ted Ashurst picking up 3 for 13 in his opening spell. Kiwi Max Chu, single handily attempted to get Halstead back into the game, scoring 76 from 45 balls, before becoming the last man out with the score on 131. Callum Eva (2 for 58) picking up his wicket, and solid bowling spells from Charlie Prudence (1 for 20) and Aayush Salil (2 for 36) backing up the Springfield effort.

Division 2

Just the two games on the pitch in Division Two, Coggeshall giving Eight Ash Green 20 points without having to take the field, having conceded the game. Unfortunately, Coggeshall fell foul of Rule 15B, not notifying the Results Secretary of the concession by 10pm on the eve of the game, so were deducted 10 points.

On the pitch there was a free scoring game at Bull Meadow, where Great Totham took on Great Waltham, in their first fixture of the season. Batting first, the visitors put am imposing 316 for 6 on the board, Arthur Cunningham (29), Kurt James (31) and Rhys Chapman (40) all putting in good knocks. However, the real star of the innings was Lewis Chapman who made good of the small boundaries by scoring an unbeaten 142 from just 62 balls – the innings included 17 fours and 10 sixes, and Chapmans dominance was illustrated in a 5thwicket stand of 139 with Bailey Carswell (14). Jack Ridge (2 for 30 from 4) was the most successful of the home bowlers on a day when runs were hard to stem.
In reply, Great Totham made a good with Issy Croft (32 out of 33 for the first wicket off 15 balls) leading the way. Jack Ridge (61 off 55) and James Pook (61 off 52) put on a second wicket stand of 121 to see Totham well placed at the halfway stage. A run a ball 30 from Timbo Slice saw Totham reach 235 for 7, but when he became the first of Matt Reed’s four wickets (4 for 68) the end came rapidly with the home side dismissed for 247.

Two sides who both won their first game came head to head at The Glebe, and it was West Bergholt who won in spectacular style against a young Mersea side. Batting first James Banks (105) and Ed Hance (66) set the tone for the innings with a 168 run opening partnership. Jack Montgomery (82no) continued his good early season form and with Prakash Kannan (48) put on 98 for the third wicket, with Bergholt eventually reaching 316 for 3.
In reply, West Mersea were blown away in 13.5 overs, as Mustafa Irshad (4 for 10) and Alice Green (3-0) led the attack and bowled the home side out for just 29, to see Bergholt victors by a massive 287 runs.

T20

The T20 competition got underway with champions Coggeshall hosting Galleywood. A pretty one sided match saw the Cockerels record a winning start, Dan Wheeler (48 from 26 balls) and Rob Cross (79 from 34 balls) smashing a third wicket partnership of 92, as they posted a huge 231 for 5. Galleywood were always struggling in the reply, as an economic opening stint from Trevon Garraway (2 for 7 from 4), and braces for Josh Morton (2 for 11) and Theo Sivyer (2 for 22) saw them contained to 100 for 9 from their 20 overs. Wesley Swann (17) the top scorer for Galleywood.

T30

Kelvedon and Copford began their T30 seasons with a match at Rye Mill Lane, and it was the hosts who won in convincing style. Posting 161 for 1 from their 30 overs, they then bowled out Copford for 98 in reply

While Sudbury picked up 20 points in the other T30 fixture as Coggeshall conceded their game.

Next week sees a key fixture at this early stage of the season in Division One, as Clacton host early season leaders Sudbury. Galleywood welcome Halstead to Slades Lane in the other fixture.

In Division Two, West Mersea welcome Eight Ash Green to the Glebe, while Coggeshall will be looking to get into positive points at home to Great Horkesley & Lexden.
West Bergholt’s game with Great Totham has been re-scheduled to June 26th.

Three games in the T30, Coggeshall are at home to Brightlingsea, Great Bentley welcome Witham and Chappel & Wakes Colne travel to Tendring.