North Essex Cricket League

Witham champions of Divison One! Division One Witham were crowned champions of Division One on Sunday, following opponents Galleywood’s unsurprising concession. Division Two West Bergholt are now favourites to take the Runners Up spot in Division Two, following a comprehensive win at main challengers Great Waltham. Batting first the visitors posted a handy 251 for 9 from their 40 overs, with middle order batsmen Mobeen Minai (63) and Joe Smith (47) recovering the situation from 138 for 6. Richard Horswill (5 for 59) had made early inroads to the Bergholt innings before the recovery. In reply, Waltham were soon losing wickets with the only resistance coming from half centuries from Jamie Carroll (55) and Kieran Webb (56), Joe Smith picked up 3 for 40, while Owen Jones mopped up the tail with 4 for 11 as Waltham were dismissed for 154. A rare outing for Great Horkesley & Lexden on Sunday, saw them defeated by 6 wickets at Eight Ash Green. The visitors were in early trouble being reduced to 30 for 5, as Matthew Murray (5 for 6 from 4 overs) caused early mayhem. Skipper Ali Manhire (40) top scored, while John Hyde (20no) saw the score past [...Continue Reading]

Halstead’s Max Chu dominated T20 Finals Day with two centuries to see his side claim the T20 title for the second time. T20 Halstead met Mistley in the semi final and were soon into their stride after being asked to bat. Max Chu and Ben Lockrose (87 from 45 balls) putting on 163 for the first wicket. Chu (106 from 54 balls) went through to his first century of the day, being third man out with the score on 221, the second of three wickets that fell to Dylan Day (3 for 31). Halstead skipper Josh Wells chipped in with 28 from 11 balls as Halstead closed at 234 for 4. James Scott (23) and Sam Burkitt put on 32 for the first wicket, before Ben Lockrose (2 for 14) dismissed both. Thereafter, it was a procession of Mistley batsmen with only Callum O’Connell (14) reaching double figures. Ed Calrk picked up 3 for 15, and there were two wickets each for Wells and Craig Spooner as Mistley were dismissed for 82 in the 15th over. It was a tighter match on the second pitch as champions Coggeshall took on Wivenhoe. Wivenhoe batted first and posted 173 for 9, largely [...Continue Reading]

Top two in Division One, both miss the chance to claim the silverware as they both lose, while Great Totham are Division Two champions. Division One The top two both travelled knowing that any slip ups now would probably be fatal in their title aspirations. However, incredibly both lost to see the title go to an early September finale. Leaders Halstead completed their season at close neighbours Sudbury, who batted first after winning the toss. Darren Batch (43) and Paddy Sadler (41) gave the hosts a confident start with an opening stand of 82. Alex Quin (40) and Kenny Moulton-Day then put on a fourth wicket stand of 94 as Sudbury brought up the 200. Moulton-Day (73 from 46 balls) was eventually bowled by Aaron Read (2 for 47), but some lively late order cameos saw Sudbury reach 264 for 7. In reply, Charles Thomas (3 for 39) made early inroads into the Halstead innings, reducing them to 18 for 2, before Charles Mallett (39) and Ryan Vickery put on 58 for the third wicket. While Vickery (65) was there Halstead were in the contest, so when Ben Reece (2 for 46) claimed his wicket with the score on [...Continue Reading]

Halstead are back on top of Division One, following a home victory to Colchester & E.E. Division One Halstead regained the lead of Division One after a comfortable five wicket success over Colchester & E.E. at Star Stile. Batting first the visitors were largely indebted to opener Rahul Viswanath (76) and a final flourish from Simon Fernandes (30no) to get them up to their tea time total of 171 for 6. Kyzer Fairbrother (1 for 20 from 7) probably the pick of the home bowlers. In reply, Halstead cruised to victory in 23 overs, with James Tyson (44), Shair Sullaman (31) and Josh King (27) all contributing well. CL Fernandes picked up 3 for 19 for Colchester. Despondent bowlers at Friars Road, where Sudbury and Clacton shared over 600 runs for the loss of five wickets ! Clacton batted first and racked up 308 for 3 from their 40 overs with Kian Schwartz (107) and Daniel Loveless (107) both posting centuries. Jatinder Singh (33) and Matthew O’Brien (27no) also adding to the total. Sudbury’s Ewan Day was the most successful bowler on the day, picking up 2 for 48 from his 5 overs. Sudbury made relatively easy work of [...Continue Reading]

Just the one game completed in the top two Divisions – but a significant one nevertheless. Division One Witham hosted Clacton at The Parks, with the opportunity to go top of the table in Division One for the first time this season. Witham batted first and were quickly into their stride with openers Jake Wakelin (130) and Michael Godwin (135) both posting big centuries. Christopher Garrard then chipped in with 40, as Witham closed at a mammoth 380 for 4. Harry Spence with 2 for 57 was the pick of the Clacton bowlers. In reply, Clacton picked up maximum batting points, with opener Matt O’Brien (42) and Daniel Williams (115) contributing most to the score. Benjamin Hunt picked up 4 for 47 as Clacton reached 243 for 8 in reply. Galleywood conceded their match at Colchester & E.E., which has seen the Colchester side leap frog Sudbury in the table. In Division Two, Eight Ash Green benefitted from a concession from West Mersea, while the Great Horkesley & Lexden v Great Waltham game was postponed to this coming Sunday, due to Great Waltham ladies being involved at the County Final in Chelmsford. No news from the T30 games between [...Continue Reading]

The final four for T20 Finals Day was decided as the Group stage comes to an end. Halstead and Witham continued their battle for the Division One title by both picking up wins on Sunday. Division One At Star Stile, Halstead entertained Springfield and after winning the toss elected to bat. Half centuries for Adam Morris (73) and Ed Clark (60), and important 34 from Clalum Hansey were largely responsible for Halstead posting 193 all out. Noah Pothen (4 for 17) was the stand out bowler for the visitors. However, Springfield had no response to early bowling spells from Ed Clark (3 for 14) and Josh King (3 for 16) as they slumped to 46 for 6. Andrew Oval (28) top scored for Springfield as they were bowled out for 104. A free scoring game at The Parks, where Witham hosted Colchester & E.E. Witham won the toss and elected to field, and the visitors made good progress through Rahul Viswanath (58) and Ben Robinson (88). Josh Elliott (42) also contributed well as Colchester posted 272 all out in 40 overs. Oscar Burley (4 for 43) was the pick of the Witham bowlers. Witham openers, Michael Godwin (48) and [...Continue Reading]

The top two in Division One both picked up victories on Sunday to keep the title race bubbling nicely, while in the T20 group stage Wivenhoe join Halstead and Coggeshall on Finals Day. Division One They achieved their victories in completely different fashion, with Halstead benefitting from yet another concession from a struggling Galleywood. Witham made the trip to Sudbury, and in a game reduced to thirty overs a side due to the extreme weather, batted first after winning the toss. Sudbury must have been thankful that the game was reduced, as they were run ragged in the field with Witham posting a massive 287 for 2. Michael Godwin (120) dominated the Witham innings, putting on 119 for the first wicket with Mason McDonald (19). He then put on a further 73 for the second wicket with Christopher Garrard before being bowled by Lasith Lakshan. Garrard (71no) and Kaan Hawes (51no) then combined with an unbroken third wicket stand of 95 as Witham reached the tea interval. In reply Sudbury were never really in the contest being restricted to 118 for 8, of which Ewan Day (39 from 45 balls) top scored. Harrison McDonald (2 for 18) and James [...Continue Reading]