A great day out for the casuals XI with several new faces. James Monk and Ollie Kearin returning to the club, Jack Holgate in his first game, and Mark Harris in his second, brought a refreshing look to the Earls Colne line up. Mersea won the toss and elected to bat in a 40 overs a side competition.
Earls Colne used 8 bowlers, with great all round performances for all, including Steve Willsher who took a wicket in his first ball for more than ten years! Neville ‘Noddy’ Goodwin scored a good fifty, and the Mersea side finally closed their innings on 167 runs.
After an excellent tea provided by absent skipper Tony Hayns (his car had broken down but Oakers had selected 12 players owing to a miscalculation so we were ok!), Earls Colne started with the early dismissal of Mark Harris, chasing a wide one and being caught behind for just one run. But Ben Mason, our new batting colossus strode to the wicket, knowing exactly how to score and repeated his performance of the previous week with 58 and out lbw. Ollie Kearin contributed a handsome 36, Jack Holgate a useful 10 (before being bowled by an eight year old leg spinner with the slowest ball ever bowled). 100 runs were required in the last 20 overs, and with two overs to go, 11 were still needed. Adam Page got out of bed to stroke a magniificent 4 before being clean bowled. A tantalising finish beckoned, with 5 required from the last over. Dave Brooker came to the crease. Taylor Nicholson took a single putting Dave on strike, who struck the next ball to the boundary, and victory with two balls to spare. A great day out, and a wonderful, morale-raising victory. Well done to all who played.