Weekly Round Up

Division One

After defeat last week Halstead, bounced back with a 254 run victory at Galleywood to join Clacton at the top of the division. An opening stand of 332 between Adam Morris (102) scoring his maiden century, and Josh King (216) set Halstead up for an enormous 347 for 2.

Left handed King was the dominant partner scoring his first fifty from 39 deliveries, and then smashing his second fifty in just 22 balls, to record his first Halstead century. Hayden Plumb (2 for 22) picked up the first two wickets in the Galleywood reply, before Elliot Butler (5 for 17) got to work as Galleywood were dismissed for 93 in reply. David Wicks (23) and Zac Wicks (22) the only batters to top twenty.

Clacton were emphatic winners at home to Sudbury on Sunday, to return to joint top of Division One. Sudbury won the toss and elected to bat, but were unable to release the shackles from some very tight Clacton bowling. Kenny Moulton-Day hit a fluent 41 at the top of the order from 29 deliveries, including five fours and two sixes. However, with Daniel Williams (2 for 38 from 9), Kian Schwartz (3 for 35 from 8) and Kieron Parkes (3 for 22 from 9) taking wickets, and a steady nine over spell from Ryan Chamberlain that yielded 26 runs, Sudbury were restricted to 141 for 8 from their 40 overs. Tom Park the top scorer for Sudbury with a gritty 43 in the middle of the innings. In reply, Clacton raced to victory in 16 overs, with Daniel Williams (66no) and Kian Schwartz (61no) sharing an unbroken second wicket stand of 109 as Clacton won by 9 wickets.

Division Two

West Mersea have gone to the top of Division Two, following a narrow win at home to Eight Ash Green. Winning the toss and maybe suspecting a weakness in the Mersea side after they were bowled out for 29 last week, Eight Ash Green elected to field. Mersea posted 173 for 3 from their 40 overs, with James Rutter dominating the innings with a career best 116 not out. The only other player to reach double figures for the islanders was Daniel Gladwell (22). Alistair Woodcock was the most successful of the Green bowlers, returning respectable figures of 2 for 20 from his 9 overs. In reply, Eight Ash Green made a solid enough start with Craig Axon (26) and Duncan Wyatt (28) putting on 63 for the first wicket. However, the game swung with the introduction of Mersea skipper Ben Rumble, whose nine over spell returned 5 for 23 and saw the visitors slip to 92 for 6. Felix Friedlein (30) hit a rapid knock to make things interesting, with a solid Tim Chambers (34no) backing him up in a fifty stand for seventh wicket. Young 13 year old Ollie Wyatt claimed the wicket of Friedlein, and with Dan Gladwell returning to pick up a wicket on his way to 1 for 28 from 9, the equation came down to eleven runs required from the last over with the last pair at the wicket. In the end Ollie Wyatt (2 for 40) was able to defend it, with Green taking just four singles to see Mersea win.

At Harefield, Coggeshall have finally got into positive points, with administrative errors costing them 30 points over recent weekends. They leap frogged visitors Great Horkesley & Lexden following a seven wicket victory. Winning the toss and batting first, the ten player visitors were reduced to 67 for 8, with Tom Pickles (3 for 10) and Adam Egg (2 for 42) the most significant wicket takers. A last wicket stand of 62 got Horkesley & Lexden to respectability at 129 all out, the last pair Mohammed Romali and John Hyde both scoring 27. Despite Romali (2 for 13) taking two early wickets, Coggeshall made light of the run chase, with Ashley Blows (73no) leading the way, and enjoying a third wicket stand of 84 with Tom Pickles (30).

In the T30 competition, Sunday’s three winning sides share the early lead of the table on 40 points.

Brightlingsea made it two from two with a 76 run win at Coggeshall. Oscar Finbow (108no) was the mainstay of the Brightlingsea innings of 212 for 4 from their 30 overs. Finley Morton (2 for 14 from 6) was the pick of the Coggeshall bowlers. In reply, Trevon Garraway (50 ret not out) and Callum Stott (44) both scored well at the top of the order, but economic spells at the start of the reply by Michael Barrenger (1 for 14 from 5) and Zahid Momand (0 for 12 from 5) significantly restrained the run scoring. Jenson Cook (2 for 22) and Parvais Ahmadzai (2 for 39) picked up a brace of wickets each as Coggeshall were restricted to 136 for 7.

A tighter match at Bentley Green, saw Witham succeed by 30 runs over Great Bentley. Ben Tinham (50 ret not out) top scored as the visitors posted 142 for 6, Alfie Youngs (3 for 22) the most successful of the Bentley bowlers. Bentley were contained to 112 for 7 in reply, with Dan Baker (53 ret not out) and Josh Fowler (16) the only batters into double figures. Tinham (2 for 12) and Jack Brown (2 for 9) the most successful of the visiting bowlers.

Tendring are also on 40 points following an eighty run victory over Chappel & Wake Colne. Harrison Walsham (50 ret no) and Steven Starling (45no) were the highest scorers in the Tendring total of 181 for 4. Colin Brown picking up 2 for 21, and tidy spells from Maxwell Jones (0 for 19 from 5) and Aron Jordan (0 for 20 from 5) the stand out performances with the ball. The Tendring bowlers were much more miserly in their performance led by veteran Ian Robinson who returned 2 for 8 from his opening spell of five overs. This was backed up by Gary Jenno (3 for 10 from 5) and Jack Tattersall (1 for 7 from 5) as Chappel were bowled out for 101 in the 30thover. Shane Watkins (22) the top scorer for the visitors.

Next weekend, six of the seven teams in Division One are in action. Joint leaders Halstead travel to Colchester & E.E who are looking for their first win of the season. Clacton make the trip down the A12 to Springfield, while Sudbury welcome struggling Galleywood to Friars Street.

In Division Two, there are two matches with early season leaders West Mersea welcoming Coggeshall to The Glebe, and Eight Ash Green host winless Great Totham.

T20 action sees champions Coggeshall play their second match of the campaign as they entertain Mistley.

While in T30, Witham should go top as they make the trip to Copford, knowing a point will lift them to the summit at the end of May.