Author: ECCC

A close game last Sunday, the Casuals going down by 2 wickets against Clacton 4ths.  Many ringers in the opposing side, we hear.

Fuller report may follow.

Earls Colne vs Abberton

14/7/13

Colne came into the game in great form and on the back of a three match winning streak, on a baking hot day, the most pressing matter at hand was to whether Daryl would win the toss and spare us the pain of having to field in 30c heat.

Luckily (once again) he won the toss and we decided to bat, as usual Messrs Dunn & Wilkinson cut it fine in terms of arriving on time, but at least we were batting and didn’t have to worry about starting with 9! Daryl and a returning Harry Callaghan opened up and started well. Harry the more watchful of the two batsmen as Daryl went after anything outside off stump. Daryl was caught going after one too many with the score on 26, Archie followed a few balls after, nicking one behind to the keeper after being bowled a couple of unplayable deliveries previously. Will Dunn joined Harry and they continued the process of re-building the innings, Harry was watchful and was ensuring that we did not lose another quick wicket, Will continued his good form until he was caught on the deep cover boundary for 28. Debutant Angus Collins crashed a quick-fire 26 including one quite large six! At 30 overs we were 129 for 4 and we had to focus on getting at least 200 on a wicket which offered little assistance for the bowlers. Lee continued to increase the run rate with a run a ball 22, Russ biffed 11, Chris Wilkinson hit 3 fours in his 12. However Harry was the one constant and batted sensibly throughout, ensuring we got up to a defendable total and not giving up a chance of note, he passed 50 and at the end of our 45 overs he was 71 not out. A real example of how to build an innings and to play around others, at the end of 45 overs we finished on 211 for 7.

After a tea of egg sarnies, Harry taking a cold shower after his marathon innings and talking about how we were going to fry in the field, we set about bowling Abberton out.

Once again we started well, Smith removing number 1 Cowland and number 3 Sullivan, bowled off and leg stump respectively, Ben removed the danger man Savill for 0, caught at point by Will Dunn (we wont mention the dolly he dropped an over earlier!).  The damage had pretty much been done in the first 10 overs with Abberton at 19 for 5. Ben and Joe both bowled there 10 overs out each and took 7 wickets between them Ben finished with 4-13 and Joe 3-43. Lee and Russ came on for an over each and wrapped things up for us, bowling out Abberton in the 22^nd over for 62.

Bowling Figures: Ben Mason 10-4-13-4, Joe Smith 10-1-43-3, Lee Parish 1-1-0-1, and Russel Dawes 1-0-3-2.

Earls Colne win by 149 Runs. Earls Colne 20 points, Abberton 3 points.

We are now 4^th in the League.

Earls Colne Legends took on the current EC team in a twelve-a-side T20 game last night.

Great to see players from the past – Busby, Don, Ballsy, Andy Hayward and others

In a close fought game the EC team posted 157 runs with Daryl Sleeman scoring quickly from the outset as Don Cutmore tried to remember how to bowl.

The Legends made a good fist of the response and went into the final two overs with just 21 runs needed to win, having lost the dangerous Ballsy an over earlier.  A tight penultimate over from Joe Smith, which went for only 4 left the Legends with an uphill task.  With 12 needed off the last two balls, two maximums were required, but only a four and a single came.

Earls Colne won by 7 runs.

A great BBQ, very kindly set up by Tony Hayns was enjoyed by all and everyone agreed to include this again in future cricket weeks.

A clear £290 profit was made on the night from match fees, BBQ and wine raffle, which goes towards club funds.

A great win today.

Earls Colne batted first scoring 209 (Chintesh Patel 72)

Copford 144-9.  Bocking 4 wickets, Grice 4 wickets.

Earls Colne win by 65 runs

Earls Colne vs. Great Horksley 30^th June

A baking hot day welcomed us as we took on 2^nd placed Great Horksley at Green Farm Meadow, we hoped to end our streak of not having won a game at home, on a pitch that looked good for batting, but with recent rain it would give a bit of help to the bowlers.

Daryl won the toss and chose to bat, with Archie being late after having a night gallivanting around London, it was up to Smith & Sleeman (sounds like an undertakers!) to see off the new ball.  Smith sadly perished for just 8 chasing one that he should have left, Henry Holme at No 3 guided a couple of boundaries through slip before being bowled, and after 14 overs we were 42 for 2. Will Dunn joined Daryl  at the crease and the two continued to bat well against a testing Horksley attack, Daryl (who had batted with excellent composure and was starting to really motor) was caught on the cow corner boundary for 45.  At 88 for 3, after 26 overs we were well positioned, but knew that a couple of quick wickets could see us in real trouble. David Birks joined Will at the crease and both set about the change bowlers with relish, Will hitting consecutive sixes on his way to a 2^nd fifty of the cricket week, and David supporting him with some excellent strokes on his way to 35 (lets hope we don’t wait another 2 years for him to play again!). Both were dismissed in the closing overs as we looked to accelerate. Archie continued his good form with 25 not out and put on 25 for the 9^th wicket with Jon Brewer to take us up to 213 for 7 at the end of 45 overs. A good score we felt, and finally we had a score, which we felt we could defend.

After tea the temperature seemed to have increased ten fold as we took to the field. We needed to make early inroads, Horksley had set and chased some decent targets down this season, so it was with relief that we made a good start, reducing Horksley to 40-4 off 14 overs, Joe and Ben with a wicket each and debutant Darren Hawkins taking two wickets with some tidy spin bowling. However a partnership between the number 3 Krishnan and number 6 Nanda, and with a wicket not looking likely, Horksley were well placed after 30 overs at 122-4, requiring 92 off the last 15 overs with two well set batsman was not beyond reach. After some pretty average fielding, dropped catches and some good batting, Daryl returned to Ben and Joe who had six overs left between them, it had the desired effect as Joe removed Nanda for 32 and then next ball removed Amin LBW, from 122-4, Horksley slipped to 140-8, it was left to Darren Hawkins to return and wrap up the tail to finish with match figures of 8.5-1-33-4, a great debut!

Great Horksley all out for 144. Earls Colne win by 69 runs.

Earls Colne 20 points Great Horksley 5 points

This week we take on Copford in the plate Quarter Final.

The casuals side posted 232, with 50s coming from Ben Mason, Harry Callaghan and chairman Les Abbie.  Kelvedon were all out for 177.

Earls Colne win by 55 runs

The Wine Trade team brought some sunshine, and lots of wine, for an all day game yesterday.  A grand lunch and several corporate visitors and Vice Presidents added to the sense of occasion.

Earls Colne batted first but lost three quick wickets.  However a spirited partnership between Will Dunn and Pat Kerry took the score well past 130 -3 and a high score threatened.  However Pat was caught on the boundary on the stroke of lunchtime.

Good food and plentiful wine seemed to affect the rest of the batting lineup (a great wine trade tactic this one) and the innings stuttered drunkenly to a close with just 170 on the board.

The wine trade team made a game of it by generously losing wickets at regular intervals, but a great knock from Ian Thomas saw them towards the line.  With 8 wickets down The Wineanorak (aka Jamie Goode) hit the winning run, with the rain closing in. See his own report of the game http://www.wineanorak.com/wineblog/ 

Wine Trade won by 2 wickets.

Earls Colne vs Abberton 23/6/13

After last week’s defeat to North Springfield, we packed our kit bags and made our way to Abberton for Sunday’s fixture, whilst dodging the intermittent cloudbursts in Layer and Birch, we all made it to Abberton. The pitch had a nice green top on it, but with a short boundary on one side, and a history of good scores and close games being had between us, we expected a tight game.

Daryl won the toss and chose to bowl, overhead conditions were good for bowling, and Daryl’s decision was vindicated, when Joe Smith and Ben Mason reduced Abberton to 32 for 6 off of 14 overs, Ben taking 4 for 18 off 8, and Joe with 2 for 8 off 8. Some great fielding from Lee Parish who took a great diving catch off Ben for the 3^rd Wicket, we held our catches very well throughout the whole innings, and only the one-drop was recorded, as we continued to improve in this area. Change bowlers Russ Dawes and Chintesh Patel, wrapped things up for us taking two wickets apiece, as we bowled Abberton out for 67 off of 32 overs.

We quickly switched over and decided to take Tea after the game was complete, heavy showers kept circling the ground, but luckily for us we managed to stay dry for the rest of the game, Daryl and Archie opened the innings, and played with real authority as we set about the target, we managed to reach the target off of 12 overs, without the loss of a wicket, Daryl hit a couple of sixes in his 42 not out and Archie played a supporting role at the other end, finishing with 14 not out, the start of a new opening partnership perhaps?, we will see.

Earls Colne win by 10 wickets

Earls Colne 20 points, Abberton 0 points.

We remain in the chasing pack in the league, and now have a record so far this year of played 8, won 5, and lost 3. We have yet to win a game at home this season, which is a little disappointing, perhaps, its all that pressure of playing in front of a home crowd!

We play Great Horksley at home this Sunday as part of the club’s cricket week.

Dozens of Kwik cricketers, many many colts, all their parents plus senior players made this family evening go with a swing.  The inflatable slide proved very popular and many people remained until the light faded.  Receipts from wine sale, raffle, sweet stall and BBQ (Thanks Tony) amounted to just short of £500, a fantastic result. 

We would love any of those attending to say what they thought of the evening so we can make it bigger and even better next year.  Do this by posting a comment below.

Tomorrow the wine trade bring their team for an all day game starting 1130.  As well as the cricketers we have guests from Robinsons funeral services and several Vice Presidents attending lunch.

The game will go on until 7pm so drop in when you can, even if it is after work.

 A  lovely warm evening saw Sudbury bring along their colts posting a score of 162.  Earls Colne could only respond with a respectable 99.

The boys enjoyed pizza and a 175th Birthday cake (thanks to Becky Callaghan) to get the crikcet week under way in great fashion.

Tomorrow sees the cricket Kwikcricket festival with BBQ and the start of the beer festival.  Come along and enjoy it