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1st XI vs Brentwood (Away) – League.
Brentwood 179 all out from 40 overs.
Chelmsford 174 all out from 43.2 overs.
Brentwood win by 5 runs.
Brentwood Defeat Champions Chelmsford in Last Game Thriller
In the final fixture of the 2021 season, Brentwood welcomed the league champions Chelmsford, in a game which the hosts required a victory to claim second place. But in order to take the runners up position, Brentwood needed Colchester to travel to Wanstead and defeat them, which unfortunately for them didn’t happen as Wanstead won by four wickets. This meant that Wanstead finished second and Brentwood finished third with only 2 points separating them with Chelmsford more than comfortably sitting in the top spot by 35 points.
Brentwood captain Aaron West won the toss and elected to bat first, therefore placing Jack Sterland’s Chelmsford into the field. West opened the batting with Eddie Ballard but his decision to bat first seemed an interesting choice after the Brentwood captain clothed one into the air on the second ball of the innings and was subsequently caught by Jack Cook from the bowling of Liam Keaney. Brentwood were 4/1 after the first over.
The wicket of West brought Guy Balmford to the crease and the two took advantage of some loose bowling from the Chelmsford opening seam attack as the pair rapidly increased the score to 24/1 after three overs. But in Andy Styan’s next over, after he was hit for 18 runs in his previous, the wicket of Ballard was taken as the off stump was dislodged from the ground. Styan bowled Ballard for 21 off 16 and Brentwood were 33/2 after 4 overs.
Jack Hebron joined Balmford in the middle and the two stuck in with Chelmsford still not bowling as sharply as they had done all season. Balmford and Hebron’s partnership lasted 8 overs and the pair put on 30 runs before Chelmsford claimed the next wicket. Hebron departed for 13 off 29 after he wafted at one outside off stump and edged it behind to wicket-keeper Brad Green from the bowling of Oliver Devenish. This brought Richard Horswill to the crease with his side at 63/3 in the 13th over.
Horswill’s stay at the crease wasn’t long as he attempted to go over the top on a Devenish delivery but mistimed it as he was caught by Dan Hagen at deep extra cover. Horswill exited with 11 off 16 and Brentwood were 82/4 after 17 overs.
Ben Sach was now Balmford’s new partner, but the Brentwood number six soon departed as he nicked one behind to Green after the keeper took a good high catch in James Clifford’s first over. Sach left for 4 off 12 and Brentwood were reduced to 90/5 after 20 overs.
With Balmford looking like the only Brentwood batsman to stay for a durable amount of time, he was joined by another batsman in the name of Calum Balsom and just like previous partnerships this one lasted just past 3 overs. Balsom departed due to a J. Clifford delivery which popped up late causing the batter to cut it in the direction of backward point and into the hands of Ben Waring. Balsom left with 7 off 15 and his side at 105/6 in the 24th over.
So, Balmford was joined by yet another partner, this time in the name of Charlie Griffiths and the two delivered a punishing spell to the Chelmsford side. In 7 overs, the two put on a 50-run partnership and it saw Balmford celebrate a half century in the 27th over after 61 balls, 92 minutes, five 4s and one 6. This partnership was quite comfortably Brentwood’s best of the game but was ended on the first ball of the 32nd over when J. Clifford bowled Balmford for a very good 65 off 76. The home side were 155/7 after J. Clifford’s wicket-maiden 32nd over.
Charlie Griffiths departed six balls after Balmford after his leg stump was dislodged by Waring. Griffiths left with 12 off 24 and Brentwood’s score read 156/8 after 33 overs.
Chelmsford took three wickets in three overs when J. Clifford took his fourth wicket of the game as he bowled Harry Phillips out for 1 off 9 and the hosts were placed at 158/9.
Brentwood’s last wicket stand between Ash Casey and Anthony Giles lasted an extremely helpful (for the hosts) 6 overs and 21 runs and was ended when Robert Catchpole took a leaping backwards catch at mid-on from a wayward Giles shot. Styan, the bowler for the wicket, and Giles departed for 5 off 16 and Brentwood finished on 179 all out from 40 overs.
Chelmsford’s reply of 180 to win started not as they’d hoped as captain Sterland, also the league’s leading run-scorer by a staggering 321 runs, was out after attempting to loft a Charlie Griffiths delivery over mid-off only to be caught by Ash Casey. Sterland departed for 9 off 14 putting him to a brilliant season total of 1010 runs and his side were 12/1 after five overs.
Brentwood were quick in taking the second wicket too when Harry Phillips wiped out Ben Clifford’s middle and leg stump in the 8th over and Chelmsford’s score read 21/2. B. Clifford put on 7 runs off 11 balls.
James Clifford joined Dan Hagen at the crease but like Ben, the Chelmsford number 4’s stay at the crease wouldn’t last long. In the 13th over J. Clifford was bowled by Charlie Griffiths and departed for 9 off 13 and Chelmsford slumped to 36/3.
Catchpole was Hagen’s fourth partner of the innings with Chelmsford needing a stable partnership to occupy the crease. The two batsmen adequately fulfilled this as they dug in whilst playing a variety of attractive shots whilst the Brentwood bowlers delivered a bad ball. The pair lasted nearly 12 overs together and put on an admirable 50-run partnership in the 25th over but unfortunately for the away side in said over the wicket of Catchpole was lost. The Chelmsford number 5 was run out by Aaron West after attempting a quick single with Hagen and had to depart for 18 off 42 balls after settling into the game well. Chelmsford were 85/4 after 25 overs.
This brought Devenish to the crease and a very good partnership between himself, and Hagen blossomed. The two left-handers combined across 12 overs, to put on an important 61-run partnership, in which saw Hagen reach a gritty and key half century in the 33rd over. The Chelmsford opener celebrated his 50 after 189 minutes, 89 balls, five 4s and two 6s. However, soon after the 50-partnership was achieved in the 36th over, it was broken two overs later as Hagen slogged a Ballard delivery into the hands of Hebron. Hagen departed for a classy 64 off 106 and Chelmsford were 146/5 after Hagen’s wicket.
Hebron was back in on the action in the next over as he bowled Devenish for 24 off 43 after the Chelmsford all-rounder played one onto his own stumps. Chelmsford were reduced to 161/6 after 39 overs.
Jack Cook and Brad Green were the two batsmen at the crease now, however a partnership wouldn’t form as J. Cook edged one behind to keeper Balmford off the bowling of West and departed for 8 off 6, five balls after Devenish’s departure. A good catch behind the stumps from Balmford.
West and Brentwood were in a rhythm which didn’t end with J. Cook as two balls later, new batsman Keaney, was bowled by West and the Brentwood captain claimed two wickets in the 40th over. This placed Chelmsford at 162/8, requiring 18 runs to win off the last 5 overs with two wickets to spare.
Green was joined by Waring and the pair cautiously crept towards the total with a glimmering hope that they could snatch a close victory. But Waring’s hopes of making it across the finishing line ended when he attempted to pull a short ball/bouncer from Hebron which ended up clipping his glove and into the hands of keeper Balmford. Waring departed for 6 off 10 and Chelmsford required 7 to win off 12 balls with 1 wicket remaining.
Chelmsford’s hopes of ending the title winning season with a win was dependant on Green and Styan but was quickly squashed, three balls after Waring’s wicket, as Styan was bowled by West, leaving Green stranded at the other end unbeaten with 7 off 14.
Brentwood’s 5 run victory over champions Chelmsford wasn’t enough to see them into second place as Wanstead beat Colchester, so third place is where Brentwood finished. Wanstead took runners-up, two points clear of Brentwood with Chelmsford running away as deserved winners of the 2021 league title.
2nd XI vs Wanstead (Home) – League.
Chelmsford 165/2 from 23.3 overs.
Wanstead 161 all out from 33.5 overs.
Chelmsford won by 8 wickets.
Chelmsford won by 8 wkts and are the 2021 Essex League 2nd XI Division CHAMPIONS!
MATCH REPORT follows below…
A few facts and figures to illustrate the 2's absolute dominance in the Premier 2nd XI Division this season.
Of the 16 league games actually played (2 were abandoned before start), 15 were WON, and 1 was DRAWN.
The team went through the season unbeaten -
#'Invincibles!' and #'Fortress Chelmer!'
Chelmsford's 15 Wins were 4 more than second placed Wanstead (11). 13 wins came bowling first and chasing = PLAN A. (Tosses Won/Lost 10/6)
Chelmsford's points margin of victory was 55 clear of second placed Wanstead (322 to 267)
CHE and OPP head to head :-
CHE Runs scored 2526 for 67 wickets lost in 510.3 overs faced = 4.95 runs scored per over and 37.7 runs scored per wicket lost.
OPP Runs scored 2378 for 148 wickets taken in 641 overs faced = 3.71 runs runs per over and 16.1 runs scored per wicket lost.
So, CHE scored their runs 33% quicker than the OPP and scored almost more than 135% more runs per wicket than the OPP.
CHE took 148 wickets from 160 maximum possible = 92.5% effective.
OPP took 67 wickets from 160 maximum possible = 41.9% effective. So, CHE bowling was more the twice as effective than the OPP.
The CHE bowlers took 8/9/10 opposition wickets in all but one of the games.
The CHE batters scored at more than 4 an over in all but one the games
Match Report: The 2's were probably expecting a prompt searching challenge to their newly crowned status as Premier League Champions from runners-up Wanstead at Chelmer on Saturday. But it never materialised as the visitors were beaten dismissively in typical 2's 2021 style.
Plan A as usual, even though Wanstead won the toss. and chose to bat, obviously oblivious of Plan A.
At 67-6 off 17 overs Wanstead were in deep trouble, with only opener Balage (38) getting into double figures. After a modest fightback staged by Ramdial (38) and Findlay-Browne (36*), Wanstead failed to bat out their overs, and stumbled to 161 all out with 5 overs unutilised. And all this, with Chelmsford probably dropping more catches in this match than they have done all season. I stopped counting after half-a-dozen.
8 bowlers were employed by Cran (just because, as in most weeks , he had the luxury of being able to do so). Most of the damage was done by left-armer Adam Derham (6-1-15-4), and (Tom Halsey 4.5-0-29-2). Rob Hayto, Fergs, Stuey, and Harry Arnold, all took one wicket each.
161 was never going to be enough to test Chelmsford's batting and so it proved. The opening pair posted 103 for the first wicket in 21 overs before Harry Page was bowled for 46. Adam Derham backed up his 'forfar' with 53 in 64 balls before also being bowled, with the score on 128.
Thereafter, Chids (34*) and Rishi (18*) marmalised the Wanstead bowling for 36 in 3 overs to nail a trademark comprehensive win by 8 wickets with nearly 15 overs in hand.
Early beers on the outfield (again), before celebratory team 'communal' showers, ahead of the 'proper' Club celebration which went on in the Clubhouse till late.
3rd XI vs Upminster (Away) – League.
Upminster 202/8 from 40 overs.
Chelmsford 203/7 from 39.3 overs.
Chelmsford won by 3 wickets.
Chelmsford Batting:
- Pranay Gogia – 71* off 68. (Ten 4s).
- Matthew Cole – 31 off 41. (Three 4s).
- Matthew Cook – 29 off 34. (Five 4s and one 6).
Chelmsford Bowling:
- Matthew Cook – 8 overs, 2 maidens, 27 runs and 5 wickets.
- Steve Bond – 8 overs, 1 maiden, 45 runs and 1 wicket.
- Tanay Mukherjee – 6 overs, 36 runs and 1 wicket.
4th XI vs Wickford 3rd XI (Home) – League.
Chelmsford 176/5 from 40 overs.
Wickford 177/4 from 37.1 overs.
Wickford won by 6 wickets.
Chelmsford Batting:
- Paul Keaney – 114*.
- Nigel Guy – 45.
- Mohammed Ahmed – 4.
Chelmsford Bowling:
- Anisur Rahman – 8 overs, 2 maidens, 17 runs and 4 wickets.
5th XI vs Belhus 4th XI (Home) – League.
Chelmsford 253/7 from 40 overs.
Belhus 221/8 all out from 40 overs.
Chelmsford won by 32 runs.
A personal best performance from Andy Rodgers set the fifth team up for a win that guaranteed a respectable mid-table finish. A good batting display was followed by a shambolic fielding effort, but most chances were held for once.
Long bowled tidily in his opening spell and made the breakthrough but Rodgers after a slow start began to find the boundary. He shared excellent partnerships with Aditya Kuzhupilly (35) and Tom Arnold (27). Maidment also bowled well but the other bowlers were expensive.
With a milestone approaching Rodgers displayed some nervousness and unfortunately picked out extra cover to be caught for 96. There was a chance of momentum being lost in the closing overs, but James Fergus played well for a quickfire unbeaten 37.
Whilst a good score the outfield was extremely quick so 253 was not insurmountable. Belhus made a very good start through Thompson (32) and Cansdale (25) before they fell in successive overs. Charlie Hagger bowled fairly well and his three for 40 put Chelmsford firmly on top with Ryan Cheverall claiming two wickets.
Belhus found some momentum through Walker (51) and Edwards, but that threat ended when Hagger took a good catch off Arnold. Arnold claimed two more to return three for 28 whilst Brian Kaludewa impressed with his economy. Edwards played well to keep the scoreboard moving but like Rodgers he just missed out on a landmark finishing 49 not out.
The season has seen some good performances but a lot of familiar failings have been evident. Overall, though sixth is a good finish for the only 5th team in the division.
6th XI vs Rayleigh CC 5th XI (Away) – Friendly.
Rayleigh 197/5 from 40 overs.
Chelmsford 227/7 dec from 40 overs.
Chelmsford won by 25 runs.
Chelmsford Batting:
- J Hodivala – 101* (retired).
- Abraham Kurian – 23.
- Rupert Redman – 19.
Chelmsford Bowling:
- Abraham Kurian – 8 overs, 2 maidens, 28 runs and 2 wickets.
- Elliot Wenzel – 5 overs, 1 maiden, 22 runs and 1 wicket.
- Rohan Hodivala – 4 overs, 20 runs and 1 wicket.
- Priyantha Siriwardana – 4 overs, 26 runs and 1 wicket.
Under 9s vs Upminster U9s (Neutral) – Final.
Chelmsford 94 all out.
Upminster 93 all out.
Chelmsford won by 1 run.
The under nines won an exciting Central Essex Board Final on Sunday morning.
When the innings subsided to 38 for seven in the face of excellent bowling particularly from Narbheram (3-6) things looked bleak for Chelmsford. However, Ethan Kooruvelil played a superb innings and in Seb Cook (11) found a good partner.
Kooruvelil's 31 retired enabled Chelmsford to post 94 a reasonable total on a pitch that was hardly bouncing.
Aggressive running and good batting gave Upminster a great start but Riley Brockman
and Mary Devall removed them. From then on Chelmsford largely bowled well and a double wicket maiden from Henry Dowsett gave them the edge.
A panicked over in the field flipped it back to Upminster; needing only 2 to win with two wickets left. Captain Rajwali Baig (3-8) backed himself and came up trumps as the numbers 10 and 11 were clean bowled.
An excellent end to the season showed the progress that the team has made since being well beaten in their opening game by a good and well run Upminster side.
Apologies for the delay in the reports being posted. We would like to thank Oakley Bromfield for all his hard work in putting the reports together throughout the season!
Oakley will be putting together an end of season newsletter, as well as the captains reports if anyone has anything they wish to contribute to this, please e-mail oakley.bromfield@gmail.com