Weekly Round Up

Division One

Clacton maintained the early season pressure on Witham, by overcoming Springfield by 46 runs at Coronation Park. Batting first the Clacton innings was built on a second wicket stand of 185 between Joe Fowler (147 from 109 balls) and James Lee (75no from 89 balls) as they posted 274 for 3 from their 40 overs. Springfield made a spirited chase, but it was a case of too many good starts not being converted into meaningful scores as they were dismissed for 228. Opener Jack Whisker (41) top scored, while there were three wickets each for Michael Bird (3 for 42) and Pierson Mann (3 for 56).

Halstead claimed their first win of the Division One campaign at the third attempt, with an eight wicket victory over West Bergholt. The visitors posted 194 for 5 from their 40 overs, with Jack Montgomery (70), Matt Conybeare (43) and Sureshraj Anandraj (33no) all contributing useful efforts. Halstead lost both openers with just 16 on the board, before Ryan Vickery (104no) and Josh King (74no) combined for an unbroken third wicket stand of 179 to see Halstead home with 11 overs to spare.

Division Two

Great Bentley successfully chased down Eight Ash Green’s 218 for 3, to remain second in Division Two. Daryl Sleeman (41) and Felix Friedlein (43) scored well at the top of the order, before an unbeaten 69 from Ethan Frost saw the Green up to their total. James Snowdon (129) then dominated the response from Great Bentley, with D Barker (49) also weighing in, in a second wicket stand of 166 as they reached the target in just 23 overs, by seven wickets.

West Mersea conceded their home match to Chelmsford, and served notice that they were having to withdraw from the league – their results are expunged from the league, and unfortunately, it leaves just four teams left in Division Two.

T20

Halstead continued their winning start to the T20 campaign with a high scoring win at Castle Park on Thursday. Batting first Halstead posted 206 for 3 from their 20 overs, with half centuries for Ryan Vickery (58no off 38 balls, including five sixes), Josh Well (52 off 28 balls) and Adam Jones (51no iff 48 balls). In reply, Colchester were well up with the run rate as openers Feroze Ahmed (43) and Joe MacGregor (26) blasted 79 for the first wicket in 33 balls. However, once Josh Wells (3 for 19) dismissed both openers, wickets began to fall with regularity, and Halstead were then in control of the run chase. Callum Hansey (3 for 5) and Lewis Plumb (2 for 17) picked up cheap late order wickets as Colchester were dismissed for 172 and defeat by 34 runs.

On Sunday, Coggeshall and Abberton entertained the neutral to a high scoring tie at Harefield. Batting first, Abberton posted 162 for 6 from their 20 overs. Opener Elliot Mann (44) top scoring, with middle order batter Tom Sawdon (35 from 22 balls) adding some impetus to the innings. Oliver Such (3 for 23) was the pick of the Coggeshall bowlers. Coggeshall opener Ethan Botha (59 from 43 balls), and a rapid 21 from 15 balls from Edward King gave the hosts a rapid start, but the Lions clawed their back into the match, with Ross Soteriou (2 for 17) picking up two important middle order wickets. It came down to the last over with Coggeshall requiring 18 for the win. A dot ball first ball, was then followed by two sixes from Adam Egg. A further dot ball on the fourth ball added to the pressure, which then resulted in a run out going for two of Egg (22 off 14balls) on the fifth ball, meaning Trevon Garraway would need to to hit is first ball – and the last ball of the innings to the boundary to save defeat. He managed a four which saw the scores tied, with Joey Blackwell (28no) watching the drama from the non strikers end in the last over.

T30

Two close competitive games in the T30, leaders Kelvedon & Feering travelled to Witham and were defeated by five runs. Witham posted 196 for 7 from their 30 overs, with Jack Burrows (41), Ruben Rowe (38no) and George Pucker (34) all making valuable knocks. John Bowen (3 for 20), Samuel Garrett (2 for 25) and Thomas Callander (2 for 34) sharing the wickets. In reply, Kelvedon were stymied by an excellent opening spell from Rhys John (0 for 4 from 5 overs), and with three cheap wickets being taken at the other end were in trouble. Middle order contributions from Mark Cottee (42), Thomas Callander (42) and Rory Bowden (47no) got them back into the game, but with Puckey (2 for 27) and Ruben Rowe (2 for 15) picking up wickets, they came up just short.

Copford entertained Sudbury, and with middle order batters Will Monks (53rno) and Piers Comonte (50rno) both posting half centuries before retiring, were able to post a competitive 170 for 4 from their 30 overs. Bradbury (1 for 9 from 5) had bowled tidily at the beginning of the innings for Sudbury. In reply, opener Greg Pemberton (40) made a solid enough start for the visitors, but Copford were always slightly ahead in the innings. A rapid unbeaten 42 from 18 balls, by Rohan Khaira probably got the visitors closer than they thought they would, eventually finishing on 159 for 5 and defeat by 11 runs.

No news from the Tendring vs Brightlingsea game.