Match Reports

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

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……………..