Weekly Round Up

Plenty of runs around this weekend, and some excellent individual performances with some close finishes as well.

Division One

In Division One just one match saw a high scoring encounter at The Parks, where Witham chased down Springfield’s 265 for 6 to win by 6 wickets. Batting first after being inserted, the Springfield top order all scored well with Freddie Williams (54) and an in form Charlie Prudence (107no) catching the eye. Matt Trim (39) and Dan Atkinson (37) also put in useful knocks. For Witham Ollie Cooke’s nine over spell which returned 1 for 21 was the most noteable. The Witham openers gave the home side a solid platform to chase down the target, with Michael Godwin (93) and Kaan Hawes (64) putting on a century stand. Ollie Cooke then hit an unbeaten 66, and with Onke Nayu (25) guided Witham to success at the end of the 39th over. Charlie Prudence backed up his performance with the bat, to pick up 2 for 36 from his nine overs.

Division Two

West Mersea still lead the pack in Division Two, but were thankful to a remarkable innings by James Rutter to claim the points on Sunday at Great Totham. Electing to field first, Mersea made the perfect start with Joe Wyatt (2 for 40) removing Kevin Mays first ball. Jack Ridge then built steady partnerships with Drew Whiting (24) and Tim Logue (22) to see the home side progress to 90 for 2. Ben Rumble (2 for 27) and thirteen year old Ollie Wyatt (3 for 38) saw Totham collapse to 98 for 7. Tom Wheeler joined Jack Ridge and the pair put on 76 for the eighth wicket before Ridge was caught for 74. Wheeler cajoled the tail to get the score up to 200, before he was last man out in the 36th over for 41. In reply, Rutter dominated the reply scoring over 80% of the Mersea total, with an unbeaten 161 which included twenty fours and six sixes. Extras 19, was the next top scorer, with the highest from the batters being Charley Garwood (9). Louis Elson gave some useful support to Rutter, his 4 runs coming from 68 balls in a second wicket stand of 91. For the home side George Davis (2 for 59) and Tom Wheeler (3 for 26) picked up five wickets, but were unable to claim the all important wicket of Rutter.

Great Waltham remain undefeated after a close finish at Coggeshall. Coggeshall won the toss and elected to bat and were soon in trouble being reduced to 7 for 3. Initial recovery came from Chris Dingley and Callum Stott (22), before a partnership of 164 for the fifth wicket between Dingley (113) and Trevon Garraway (76) saw the Cockerels top 200. Harrison Elles (3 for 54) picked up three late wickets for Waltham, as Coggeshall closed at a respectable 246 for 8. In reply, opener Jamie Carroll dominated the early innings with Harrison Elles (23 from 14 balls) also putting in a contribution. A fourth wicket stand between Carroll (84) and Isaac Elles (65) of 115 seemed to have settled the contest, however, Lucien Kinsman five over spell of 4 for 11, including the wickets of Carroll and Elles, had the Waltham late order in a sweat, something they were equal to reaching the target with 10 balls and two wickets to spare.

The other match in Division Two, saw West Bergholt take the points following Great Horkesley & Lexden’s concession.

T20

Wivenhoe began their T20 campaign with a resounding victory in T20 at home to Galleywood. Batting first after winning the toss Wivenhoe were at their fluent best in posting 228 for 5 from 20 overs. Eddie Lucking (47) and Matt Sullivan (45) scored highest in the middle order,while Jakob Kelly (29), Sahil Shah (34) and Alex Osborne (26) all put in rapid knocks. In reply, Galleywood were limited to 100 for 4, with skipper Tom Nurcombe (51no) carrying his bat.

Elsewhere, Abberton conceded their visit to Halstead

T30

The T30 saw two close fought games. Unbeaten leaders Brightlingsea must have thought the job was done at half way, having bowled out visitors West Bergholt for just 80 in 23 overs. James Wilkinson (40) scored highest for Bergholt, while the wickets were spread around, with Stacey Plummer (3 for 28) the most successful. However, in reply Brightlingsea stumbled to 16 for 5, with Wilkinson (2 for 5 from 5), Ben Longman (2 for 12 from 4) and Jack Myers (1 for 7) having the early input. Alex Hill and Morgan Hatch pushed the score to 34 for 6, before the match winning partnership of 44 between Hill (18) and Richard Hunt saw the home side to the cusp of victory. Hill just missed out on red ink, but Hunt was 35no as Brightlingsea won by 3 wickets in the 26thover.

There was an even closer finish at Sudbury where visitors Copford claimed the points by a one wicket victory. Sudbury batting first got up to their total of 160 for 9, largely due to an unbroken last wicket stand of 43 between Charles Thomas (30no) and Jonathan Amos (35no), after slipping to 117 for 9. Good spells in the middle of the innings from Keshav Agrawal (2 for 18 from 5) and Sam Colairo (2 for 13 from 5), and a useful spell at the end of innings from Piers Comonte (2 for 17 from 4) leading to the hosts downfall. Copford seemed to have got themselves into a similar position in their reply, despite a half century from opener Jonny Blanke (54). Thomas Tullin (2 for 11 from 5) and Amos (2 for 28) were the most successful Sudbury bowlers, as the game seemed to tip in favour of them, before a last wicket stand between Finlay Owen (27no) and Karl Blanke (32no) saw Copford to an unlikely success from the last ball of the thirty.

This coming weeks matches, in Division One, Witham can life themselves into second place with a win at home to bottom of the table Galleywood. In Division Two, West Bergholt can lift themselves to the top of the division with a win at Eight Ash Green, while unbeaten Great Walsham welcome Great Horkesley & Lexden.

T20 action picks up this week with a busy schedule, beginning on Wednesday evening, as Wivenhoe host Coggeshall, while on Thursday Mistley welcome Halstead to New Road. Then on Sunday there are two more games with Colchester & E.E. hosting Abberton, while Halstead are at home to Coggeshall.

Finally in the T30 there is a busy afternoon on Sunday, Coggeshall are at home to Chappel & Wakes Colne, Copford host Tendring and Great Bentley welcome Kelvedon.