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1st XI vs Wanstead & Snaresbrook (Away) – League.
Chelmsford 117 all out from 45.5 overs.
Wanstead 121/2 from 30.4 overs.
Chelmsford lose by 8 wickets.
Wanstead Win Comfortably to Give Chelmsford First League Loss of Season!
On Saturday, Wanstead & Snaresbrook Cricket Club hosted Chelmsford Cricket Club in the eighth round of league fixtures. Going into the game, the hosts were sitting firmly in third place with the visitors at the top of the table- undefeated. Therefore, it was vital for Wanstead to get a positive result to mount a serious title charge and important for Chelmsford to win to extend their lead at the top and further their unbeaten league record this season.
Chelmsford won the toss and elected to bat first, with start of play at the time of 11am. Dan Hagen and Jack Sterland were the visiting side's trusted opening pair, but unfortunately for them they lost their first wicket at the start of the 5th over when Sterland nicked off to former Essex County player Kishen Velani, in the slips, from the bowling of Eshun Kalley. The inform Chelmsford captain out for 6 runs off 12 balls.
Two overs later, Wanstead and Kalley claimed their second wicket when Ben Waring was adjudged LBW by the umpire for 0 at the end of the 7th over. James Clifford joined Hagen at the crease with their side at 16/2 and it was clear that the pair were instructed to rebuild Chelmsford's innings. But said rebuild was knocked down in the 15th over when J. Clifford edged one into the hands of Tom Simmons at first slip from the bowling of Velani, leaving the crease with 7 runs off 25 balls and Chelmsford at 37/3.
In the over that proceeded J. Clifford's departure, Wanstead kept up the flow and claimed Hagen's wicket after the opener hit one into the grasp of Jahansher Akbar from the bowling of Joe Ellis-Grewal. Hagen out for a decent score (in context of the total Chelmsford were to achieve) of 23 from 47 balls but Chelmsford worryingly at 39/4 after 16 overs.
Robert Catchpole and Ben Clifford were the visiting batsmen at the crease but after just an 11 run-partnership, B. Clifford was caught sharply by Nabeel Aziz from Velani's bowling, for a score of 3 off 15. Brad Green joined Catchpole but walked back to the changing room, only a few minutes after leaving it, as he was out on his second ball, edging one behind to Jonathan Das- again off the bowling of Velani. Chelmsford alarmingly at 48/6 after 21 overs.
Catchpole was joined by Oliver Devenish and the pair survived five overs together until Catchpole was caught behind by Das off the bowling of Velani; the bowler claiming his fourth wicket.
Liam Keaney and Devenish were tasked with a mammoth mission of digging in and pulling the away side out of serious trouble and the pair began very well- surviving for the lunch break. After working very hard for a 30-run partnership spanning across 13 overs, Keaney edged one behind to keeper Das from Kalley's bowling, for a score of 4 off 37. Chelmsford at 97/8 after 41 overs.
Mark Drain joined a focused and determined Devenish but was bowled, in the 45th over, by Kalley's slower ball for just 2 runs off 15 balls. In the 46th over Devenish reached an outstanding half century, considering the struggle for runs from his teammates, with a boundary. But Chelmsford's innings was wrapped up three balls later when Andy Styan was run out by Akbar as he was looking to get Devenish on strike. The visitors set Wanstead & Snaresbrook a score of 117 to win.
With an irrefutable under-par score of 117, Chelmsford needed to put the pressure on Wanstead by claiming early and constant wickets whilst keeping the run-rate low. A lot to ask but after seeing them defend 123 last week at Chelmer Park versus Hadleigh, Chelmsford do not lose without a good attempt at trying win.
Wanstead openers Bilal Patel and Tom Simmons started well but their partnership was broken on the last ball of the 10th over when Simmons was given out LBW from Waring's bowling. Simmons out for 14 runs off 28 balls and the hosts at 22/1.
Das joined Patel and the pair put on a partnership of 23 before Waring claimed his and Chelmsford's second wicket, on the last ball in the last over before the first drinks break. Velani the next batsman in. Resuming refreshed and without any serious pressure, Das and Velani's partnership deemed too strong for the visitors, with the number 3 and number 4 scoring continuous boundaries which included ten 4s and two 6s.
In the 31st over Velani reached a quick half century off just 29 balls and Das wrapped up the game by hitting a four; finishing on a good 26 runs from 57 to give Wanstead the win over Chelmsford.
Wanstead will look to push on with their title charge when they play Colchester away on Saturday 3rd July and Chelmsford will want to bounce back with a good result and performance when they host Brentwood at the weekend.
2nd XI vs Oakfield Parkonians (Home) – League.
Oakfield Parkonians 136 all out from 49.4 overs.
Chelmsford 137/3 from 32.4 overs.
Chelmsford win by 7 wickets.
On winning the toss Cran stuck Oakfield Parkonians in to bat and unleashed the opening combination of the youthful Rishi and the venerable Fergs.
Obviously bemused by the somewhat varying pace of this pair, OP's 2 and 3 neglected to avoid being bowled by one and then the other.
11-2 after five overs. (Upadyhay 6 ov-3m-6r-1w), (Fergs 6 ov-0m-16r-1w).
First changers Hayto and Liddiard then shared eleven wicketless overs as OP's cautiously advanced to 55-2 and steadied the unsettled start of losing 2 wickets.
Cran summoned Tom Halsey, who promptly trapped the opener Brathwaite (lbw) in his first over and Stuey (6 ov-0m-19r-1w) who induced a catch to Rob Hayto at slip in his second over. 64-4 from 27 overs.
From this point Tom, with his particular brand of slow airy twiddlers, so befuddled OP's that they often seemed to be caught in two or even three minds; evidenced by three stumpings by Cran, two full tosses well caught by Rishi at deep mid-wicket/cow and a catch at deep extra by Chids.
OP's subsided to 136 all out two balls short of 50 overs. Tom led the team off- his return of 13.4 overs, 2 maidens, 32 runs and 7 wickets, being his best ever figures.
Cran gave Harry Page another opportunity to continue his batting development by opening the reply in partnership with Rob Hayto.
An opening stand of 70 in 20 overs was the result, with Harry's development continuing with another good innings (27 from 63) before being adjudged lbw (by a team-mate!) for the second week running. Rob was bowled for 36 an over later and Dutchy (1) was caught behind a few overs later to leave Chelmsford on 88-3, 25 overs in and 20 overs left to get 49.
Chids (42*) and new boy Leo Dolan (19*) knocked off the runs with comparative ease inside 8 overs, to give Chelmsford a comprehensive victory.
Momentum maintained.
Chelmsford still lead the Division by 27 points as Wanstead also had a 20 point win.
So on to next week, crunch week, as Chelmsford travel to Wanstead next week for a top of the table clash.
Losing is not really an option, if it can be avoided and a WIN would be a BIG boost to championship aspirations.
Bring it on!
3rd XI vs Ilford (Away) – League.
Ilford 224 all out from 50 overs.
Chelmsford 116/6 from 45 overs.
Match drawn.
Chelmsford’s 100% record is ended after a trip to Fairlop Oak Playing Fields ends in a draw.
Ilford were put into bat and started strongly with Jeyachandran Jeyarooban and Aarin Korgaonkar seeing off the new ball partnership.
In usual fashion it was pace-off that made the breakthrough is Abdul Baig picked up two in two deliveries first bowling Jeyarooban for 39 and then finding Malik’s edge the very next ball.
Tanay Mukherjee picked up the next wicket to fall as Korgaonkar was caught sharply by Rory Skepelhorn at mid-wicket.
The middle order was ticking things over nicely to the combination of Steve Bond (3-28) and Abdul Baig (4-45) restricted the hosts’ nicely as they were left 120-7 from 40 overs. However, the arrival of Ilford captain Izrar Khan caused havoc in the final ten overs. Coming in at 9, Khan hit 82 from the final ten overs resulting in the score passing 200 and setting a formidable total on this surface to chase.
Chelmsford’s reply got off to a nightmare start losing two wickets in the first five overs as Ed Cole and Andrew Rycroft were dismissed cheaply. Jordan Campion and Phil Arnold steadied the ship nicely batting a good length of time before Arnold was trapped in front for 24.
The star partnership was between Luke Wilson and Matt Cole as they were solid in defence and threw in a couple of well-timed strokes to the boundary.
Runs were certainly hard to come by and with the score at 51-3 at 20 overs the plan became clear to come out with the draw and not throw wickets away.
The game lacked any real excitement towards the last 10-15 overs as no chances were being created down to the resolve of the Chelmsford middle order. Matt Cole and Rory Skepelhorn remained unbeaten at the crease as the game was called a draw.
Chelmsford will host Upminster at Chelmer Park in their next fixture.
4th XI vs Loughton (Home) – League.
Loughton 200/9 from 50 overs.
Chelmsford 108/7 from 45 overs.
Match drawn.
Chelmsford Batting:
- Paul Keaney – 46.
- Nigel Guy – 27.
- Anisur Rahman – 12.
Chelmsford Bowling:
- Usama Ahmed – 14 overs, 1 maiden, 46 runs and 4 wickets.
- Dan Cornell – 9 overs, 2 maidens, 27 runs and 2 wickets.
- Jack Campion – 9 overs, 0 maidens, 28 runs and 2 wickets.
5th XI vs Leigh On Sea 3rd XI (Home) – League.
Leigh On Sea 194 all out from 45 overs.
Chelmsford 111/5 from 42 overs.
Match drawn.
A personal best performance from Tom Hutchinson was the highlight for Chelmsford of a draw in which they were largely outgunned.
Hutchinson and Beth Wright bowled good opening spells and Hutchinson struck twice but Attwood played with patience and was the one batsman to really find his feet in the game. On a slow low pitch timing proved difficult but it was equally difficult for bowlers to make inroads.
The change bowlers were unable to make much impression despite some good overs and a fourth wicket partnership with Attwood put Leigh well on top. That was ended by Elliott (27) falling to a good boundary catch from Wright. Attwood was really flourishing by now and it was something of a surprise when he holed out off of the returning Hutchinson for a well-constructed 85.
Threadgold ran well to keep the scoreboard moving before an excellent throw from Ben Lawrence ended his innings. Wright bowled splendidly only conceding 10 runs in her second spell to return one for 21 from 9 overs. Hutchinson conceded runs but kept grabbing wickets, he celebrated his first five wicket haul with a simple return catch only to somehow drop it. It was a case of postponement as he bowled the batsman next ball and took another to return six for 58.
194 was a very challenging score and with Elliott bowling well the reply made a slow start. Andy Rodgers settle din but unfortunately injured himself and retired hurt. That led to two quick wickets and with runs hard to come by, Chelmsford dug in to just bat sensibly.
Elliott finished his spell with four for 14 but Matt Spinks and Lawrence played with great vigilance, Lawrence responding well to the motivational words of Leigh's first slip that were constantly ringing in everyone's ears. Spinks essayed a few big hits before falling for 39 with a couple of overs to go whilst Lawrence saw it all the way to a conclusion