Author: ECCC

Abberton 67 All out.  4 wickets for Ben Mason

Earls Colne 68 without loss.  Sleeman 42 n.o.

Ten wicket victory – 20 points

North Springfield 171 All Out

Earls Colne 110 All Out

North Springfield wine by 61 runs

The game scheduled for Saturday 15 June has been called off as we only had seven players available

Match report follows……………..

Earls Colne C.C vs. Lexden

2/7/13

After last week’s win against Wormingford we visited lexden in good spirits, in the knowledge that our cricket was improving all the time, Lexden although in Div 4 are a good side and we knew that it would be a challenge to overcome them, in the 1^st round of the Plate competition.

Daryl won the toss and decided to bat on what looked a good surface.  We started well, getting to 28 for no loss, before Chintesh was out with one that got up a little bit and he could only fend to short leg. Jon Brewer in at 3 was dismissed by the accurate swing bowling of Larkin, we lost wickets at very regular intervals after that, Simon Holme scored 14 before being bowled, Toby Phillips at 5 was bowled, Joe Smith and Chris Wilkinson were given out LBW to perhaps questionable decisions (but the umpire has to give what he sees and that is the joy of the game!) at 56 for 5, and then 81 for 8. Henry Holme who turned up late (en route from Oxford!), went in at 10, with some very intelligent batting with Archie Wilkinson they put on 60 for the 9^th Wicket, Henry ended up with 34 Not Out and Archie 27 Not Out, it was a very well paced partnership and gave us a score that we could at least have a go at defending.

We ended up on 141 for 8 after 40 overs, so we took tea, which contained pork skewers, thick cut Cheese Sarnies and Cheesy Tortilla Chips. We took to the field knowing that we would have to bowl and field very, very well to give ourselves a chance.

Joe Smith and Ben Mason opened the bowling and kept things very tight in the first 10, Ben managed to dismiss the number 2 Morrison, but the number 1 Jones and number 3 Manhire guided lexden to 68 for 1 off of 20 and they seemed to be coasting to a very comfortable victory.

However as we know cricket is a funny old game, Jones who had been dropped by Chris at Slip and who was imposing himself more and more on our attack, clipped a ball up in the air from Jon Brewer and Joe Smith managed to run and somehow dive and take the catch with the ball barely centimetres off the ground. Not to stop things there, Henry Holme took a great diving catch to dismiss Manhire and then took an even better one handed catch, to dismiss the number 4 Shearman after he had originally gone in the wrong direction.

Although we had taken a few wickets, Lexden still only required 3-4 an over and still had batting to come.  After Chintesh and Jon had finished their excellent spells, we turned to Toby Phillips. Toby bowled some superb deliveries, dismissing Lexden’s skipper Seller, smartly caught behind by Daryl and then bowled an absolute beauty to dismiss Berger. We were now on top, but Lexden continued to fight with Morgan and Hayward who took Lexden to within 15 of their target, before Smith returned and dismissed Morgan and Ben Mason ran out Hayward with a direct hit.

 With three overs to go they required 18 and we needed one wicket, with one over to go they required 6 and we still needed one wicket, all of the 4 frontline bowlers had bowled out, so we turned to Toby (what pressure to put on a 14 year Old’s shoulders skip!!!). Toby did not disappoint, with the last ball Lexden needed 2 to win, or 1 to take it to a bowl out, Toby held his nerve and bowled a full delivery which the Lexden number 10 Larkin missed and Archie managed to run Highfield out, we won by 1 run!!!….

A great performance by a young side! we had 6 players under the age of 21, and the performances from some of our colt’s were very encouraging, especially the bowling of Toby and the batting of Taylor Nicholson who did not look out of place and was not overawed by the pressure out their…a great sign for the future.

We are next back in action on 16^th June at Home to North Springfield Wanderers.

Earls Colne vs. Wormingford 26/5/13

After Last week’s defeat to Ardleigh, Colne were hoping to bounce back at Wormingford.
 Captain Sleeman won the toss and inserted Wormingford on a pitch, which had some moisture in it after the rains of Friday. We had 8 at 12.59pm, until a brace of Wilkinson’s and a certain Mr David Holme turned up prompt as usual, Dave had left his Wellies at home this time. Archie made some excuse that he had to let his Roast settle before embarking to Wormingford.

Anyway, we took to the field and we started very, very well restricting Wormingford to 14 for 3 off the first 10 overs, all three wickets going to Joe Smith, bowling the opener Denny, having Jones caught behind by our new keeper Lee Parish and the number 4 Jeckylls being caught by Archie at slip (it hit him and he caught it!). Ben Mason was very unlucky at the other end, remaining wicketless but bowling accurately to keep Wormingford tied down. After Ben and Joe had finished their spells Wormingford were 21 for 3 off 15. Nick Oakley and David Holme replaced them; both continued the good work laid down by the openers, (Nick after shaking off his rustiness in his first three balls). David Holme removed Jamie Shave the number 2 thanks to a smart catch at point from Chintesh. Nick removed Reeve, Cole and the dangerous Constable who had worked his way to 25. Nick bowled all the way through for 10-3-28-3. Chintesh picked up a couple towards the end and Toby cleaned up Gunn the number 11 to wrap up Wormingford for 95 in 38 overs. Good Effort! especially in our fielding and bowling, which was the best it had been all season.

Bowling Figures: Joe Smith 8-5-4-3, Ben Mason 7-0-17-0, Nick Oakley 10-3-28-3, David Holme 5-0-15-1

Chintesh Patel 7-0-25-2, Toby Phillips, 2-2-0-1

As always at Wormingford we are treated to a great tea, which featured egg sarnies, scotch egg’s and scone’s, although perhaps we over-tead a little too much as our attempt at chasing down 95 will show….

Perhaps ‘Colne’s’ mantra should be ‘everyone gets a bat’, we always seem to enjoy making a meal of chasing a small target!  We started ok. Chintesh and Daryl played sensibly taking the score to 21, until Chintesh was Run Out, (as I said perhaps we eat too much tea and it hindered our speed between the wicket!). Daryl shortly after spanked a full toss to mid on, Archie was bowled by an away swinger, Joss was bowled round his legs, Jon Brewer was also bowled and Dave Holme played a lovely cover drive before getting caught at point. So we were 54 for 6. (It’s always an exciting game when we play!!!). Luckily we had two very experienced players at 7 and 8, Lee Parish and Nick Oakley, who saw off Denny’s spell and then picked off the bad deliveries, they put on 45 for the 8th wicket. Lee with 18 not out, Nick with 23 not out.

Earls Colne win by 4 wickets

Wormingford 3 points, Earls Colne 20 points
We are now placed 4th in Division 3….

Earls Colne entertained Wickham St Paul’s on a wet and spongy wicket. A big thank you to Terry,Les and Willie for getting the ground playable. Colne won the toss and elected to bowl , the reliable Lee Parish and Daryl Sleeman opened the bowling, however,the visitors openers put on a 50 partnership for the first wicket. This was taken by Colin Bocking with an excellent leg break which clean bowled Minker for 19. Hayns then brought on the ever eccentric David Holme, who turned up 1 min before the game started in a green pair of wellies and a striking Panama hat, he then bowled with good pace and dismissed Turner with a beautiful in swinging delivery which had the batsman plum LbW, 2 balls later he clean bowled Willingham for 0. Eyebrows were raised when Hayns took Holme off the very next over,  he turned to debutant Pat Kerry who bowled 2 overs for 9 & Mr Chairman Les Abbie who took 2 wickets for 16 runs.  Gwyn Jones bowled some lovely off breaks and claimed a well deserved wicket. Wickham St Pauls were now 82 for 6. Hayns changed again and brought Taylor Nicholson on and he bowled where he left off on Tuesday evening and claimed a wicket with figures of 3 overs 1 wicket for 11 runs.

Willie has been threatening to bowl for well over 3 years and he claimed the wicket of the skipper.  David Holme took another wicket and returned figures of 6 overs 3 for 15.  Lee Parish took the final wicket and finished with figures of  6.3 overs 1 wicket for 18 runs.  Wickham St Paul all out for 121.

After a glorious tea supplied by my wife Thank you dear! Willie and Taylor opened with Willie departing for 0 after playing on. Jack Holdgate took advantage of batting at number 3 and played well for 33 before being bowled. Taylor continued his excellent form and supported well as new man Pat Kerry entertained with an unbeaten 49 which included 7 x 4’s and 1×6 both batsman carried their bats and another great performance resulted in a comfortable 8 wickets win.

Earls Colne 169 all out.  Arleigh 170 -7.  Full match report follows.

Ardleigh won by 3 wickets

Earls Colne vs Great Totham 12/5/13

Apologies for not publishing reports on the first two games…two weeks ago we defeated Harwich by 10 wickets and last week we lost to West Bergholt by 50 Runs. (That’s that wrapped up!).

So onto Great Totham who were top of the league with 3 wins from 3, we all got there on time (for a change). Daryl lost the toss and we were inserted on a pitch, which had some overnight rain on it. Harry and Daryl started well taking us to 20 after 5 overs, until Harry was run out for 5 attempting to run two when a single was really only there. After 15 overs we were 54 for 4, Daryl being bowled, Jon Brewer getting caught and Joe Smith, well the less we say about his dismissal the better. Lee Parish came in and bunted a few around but was dismissed for 26. After 20 overs we were 88 for 5 and in a very poor position on a small ground. Russell Dawes joined Chintesh Patel (who came in at 3 and stood at the other end, while we all managed to get ourselves out.). Chintesh and Russel built slowly at first and then dispatched the bowling to all parts we went from 88 for 5 to 249 for 5 in 18 overs, Chintesh passed 50 as did Russell before he was bowled for 79 (club high score for Russ we believe). Chintesh got to his first ever 100 and our first one of the season, with 11×4’s and 3×6’s, it was a superb display of discipline and how to build an innings, he did not give up a chance and along with Russ made sure we posted a total of 269 all out in the 44^th over. Chintesh was the last man out for 104.

After a tea of Pasta, Tortilla Chips and Cake we took to the field under grey skies and with the rain coming down ever the heavier, there was a real concern that we would not finish the game.

However, we took to the field, and looked to take quick wickets before the rain forced us off, Totham scored quickly but we managed to take regular wickets, Smith managed to claim 4 wickets (all bowled), we kept Totham in check throughout and were already having to get 8-9 an over as we reached the 20^th over, Totham were very sporting and stayed out in the rain which pretty much turned the ball into a bar of soap and made for a spongy outfield, we rotated the bowling around, Russ took the important wicket of Whiting, and at that point we felt we were set for victory. Davis and Gooch numbers 7 and 8 put on a 50+ partnership, which caused us some headaches, until Lee Parish dismissed Davis with a good catch from Ben Mason; we wrapped things up a few overs later. Lee taking 4 wickets in total. Great Totham were all out for 175. Earls Colne win by 94 runs.

Bowling Figures: Joe Smith 10-1-27-4, Ben Mason 10-0-68-0, Russ Dawes 5-0-17-1, Chintesh Patel 4-0-21-0, Lee Parish 8.4-0-38-4, Toby Phillips 3-0-6-0

Next Week we take on North Springfield Wanderers at HOME 1PM START.

Happily we have arranged a Saturday friendly versus Wickham St Pauls.  This does not mean an uncompetitive game.  Enjoy your cricket at all costs!