Match Reports

Ben Mason has picked up the Geraint Jones /Piri Piri league award for quickest bowler to 30 wickets.

See the full report here http://www.necl.co.uk/ 

Gents,
 

From Sunday skipper Joe Smith.

The final game of our league season was sadly called off against Wormingford today, due to rain, we did manage to get through 5 overs of the game where Chintesh and Harry managed to see us through to 12-0.
 
With the abandonment it means that we will finish the season 3rd in Division 4, and with some re-structuring to be done in the higher divisions due to the folding of Braintree College and other possible drop-outs it could mean that we end up playing Divison 3 cricket next season and a promotion could well be achieved, however I will not know this until the 31st October at the NECL AGM….lets wait and see…
 
All in all, its been a good year on the field, whilst we didnt break into the top two, we must be very, very happy with what we achieved this year…we have had some great victories and some great individual performances. I will post a link to the league averages in the next couple of weeks, as they are now done by the league on the sportstatz database.
  
We still have one fixture as a club left against our good friends and neighbours at Bures C.C next Sunday to round off the season, this is open to all of those who have played Saturday, Sunday or Casuals cricket this season…please submit your availabilties the usual way.
 
Thanks to all those, who have participated, helped, done teas, and most importantly played!, every game has been participated in the right spirit as a team, and compared to other clubs I would say our conduct on and off the field is always excellent, we play hard, but fair but more importantly we always play the game in the right spirit……everyone should hold their heads high over how they and the team have performed this season.
 
On a further note, (and as many of you may already know), this will be my last season as Earls Colne Sunday XI Captain.  After 6 years I have decided that it is time for someone else to lead the team, and for me to take a step back in 2013. I hope that whoever takes over the role has the same amount of support and player turnout that I have. I think 6 years is enough for anyone to do the job (Terry did it for 20 I believe, a figure I doubt anyone would get near to these days, with work and other commitments etc!) but I believe it time for perhaps a fresher face, with new ideas for the team to take over the mantle.
 
Many Thanks
 
Joe Smith

Match Report from Joe Smith, skipper.

 
A grey day welcomed us for our Home game vs Eight Ash Green 2nd XI, kicking off a little late (Sorry Lee and Dave…long story!). Earls Colne were put into the field by a young EAG side.
 
Earls Colne started well with Smith removing opener Tim Chambers for 0 and the dangerous looking Nunn lbw for 18.  Ben Mason also got in on the act himself, taking two very well held Caught and Bowled’s, and having the skipper of EAG Brindred caught by Dave at Slip for a Golden.  After Joe dismissed Lovejoy, caught at short Cow by Simon Boulton we reduced EAG to 49 for 7 off 17. A great start; the fielding had been good for the large part, the bowling accurate and spirits were high.
 
However, as in most of these instances, a partnership was formed against the change bowlers – number 8 Jens Wair and Number 9 Charlie Lovejoy scored 33 each, putting on 62 for the 9th wicket, and rebuilding their side’s innings to get to a defendable total of sorts. Frustrated by the lack of wickets Smith bought Dave Brooker into the attack who managed to dismiss Wair for 33, Lee Parish who was unlucky not to pick up a wicket or two ended up with 10-1-27-0. Ben Mason bought on to finish his spell took his 4th wicket. EAG saw out the last few overs to end up on 138-9 off of 45.
 
Bowlers: Joe Smith 10-5-22-3. Ben Mason 10-5-26-4, Lee Parish 10-1-27-0. Simon Boulton 4-0-18-0, Toby Phillips 3-0-12-0, Dave Brooker 6-0-19-1, John Gibson 2-2-0-0
 
Great effort lads, they may have got more than we would have liked, but to dismiss any side out for a sub 150 score on a good batting track is a good effort, good bowling, good fielding all well enjoyed by the team, and we dived into tea and the thought of batting with confidence.
 
It wouldnt be EC, if we didnt set a few nerves jangling, and people’s stomach’s a little uneasy (Captain Smith’s had been on the turn all day). Daryl Sleeman was out trying to hook a short ball and instead hitting it to Mid On for 0, Harry top edged R.Nunn to Fine Leg for just 6 and we were looking a little dicey at 17 for 2.  Like last week Dave Brooker strode to the crease and settled things down, with a combination of good running (with a very bad calf) and some great boundary shots, we slowly built the innings back up. Fred Higgins at the other end supported Dave well, putting away the bad ball, and keeping out the good ones. We got to 79 for 2 off 20, before Dave snicked to Slip for 38. Joss Wilkinson his replacement began well and allowed fred to free his arms, until he was bowled for 28 (very short bowl, went along the ground, Fred stood little chance), which left us at 99 for 4 off 25.
 
Joe joined Joss at the crease, with EAG’s tails up and all the bowlers bowling a very good line and length, Joss couldnt keep the last ball of S.Nunn’s spell out and was bowled for 15. EC 111-5, Lee Parish and his years of experience, helped us edge ever close to 122 for 6, before he was bowled (didnt see it, granted it was very gloomy!).
 
Si Boulton then strode out, knowing EC needed 17 with 9 overs left, luckily for EC, and with a dropped catch and a few aerial shots by Si which went over the top of the fielders, we managed to win the game by 4 wickets, with 9 balls to spare.
 
EC 20 Points, EAG 5 points.
 
Massive Win, and we now are 3rd in Divison 4, its going to go down to the wire…..
 
Below is the League Table for you all to digest…..Its getting, so, so close, if we win our last three games, promotion will be assured, depending on other results, and with a lot of the top 4-5 playing each other, we may only require two.  We play both top teams in those last three games!
 

The Saturday game against Long Melford has been conceded.  Last minute injury and work commitments reduced the team to 9, and no replacements could be found at late notice.  We live to fight next season, but need to recruit for Saturdays.  Please can all players and friends of the club encourage cricketers to join!

Following the great victory on Sunday including a century from Dave Brooker, Colne were skittled out for just 37 at Brightlingsea, against a side packed with first-teamers.  This is our lowest score for many a year.  No-one scored double figures, but we did managed to gain a point by taking two wickets before the game was wrapped up by Brightlingsea.  The gory details are here http://www.sportstatz.com/ss/web.asp?club=1057&mode=100&match=11447

Captain Smith lost the toss and Colne were inserted by West Bergholt.  We soon lost Daryl (LBW, Caught Behind, I still dont think we’re sure!) and Harry was joined by Dave Brooker and the two batted at the crease for 30 overs in a partnership of 154, (record?).  Dave motored past 50, then 100, whilst Harry played the holding role, giving Dave the strike whilst ticking the score along at his end.  Harry was eventually out for 42, Leaving us 169 for 2 off 37.  George Unwin was caught and Bowled for 0.  James Flood biffed a few to get to 12, and it was left to Chintesh Patel and Dave to see us through to finishing the 45. We ended up on 220 for 4 off of 45, Dave Brooker 135 Not Out.
 
A brilliant effort, and it put us in a great position as we went in for tea.
 
However we were soon to find that we had a game on our hands, Bergholt managed to nullify the opening partnership of Smith and Mason and were well positioned at 55 for 0 off of 16, after Smith’s unsuccesfull first spell Chris Chambers was called into the attack, and managed to pick up the Number 2 Borges and Number 3 Gallagher, pegging Bergholt back to 75 for 2 off of 23. However Bergholt skipper Trevor Rogers, continued to be watchful and blocking anything straight whilst, ‘larraping’ anything wide or short, we definitely were up against it with Bergholt 133 for 3 off of 33 and needing 88 off of 1 – it was not out the question that they could still get the total.  However we managed to run out danger man Rogers for 82, dismiss Mcdonald for 29 and George Unwin dismissing number 7 Mclewin for 0 with one of the best catches we ever saw taken on a cricket pitch….full stretch (two handed, one handed, take your pick!).  We then picked up the wickets of the tail in reasonbly quick fashion, In the end West Bergholt were dismissed for  189 off of 43.5 overs.
 
Bowling Figures  Joe Smith 10-0-44-2, Ben Mason 8.5-1-26-1, Chris Chambers 10-0-32-2, Chintesh Patel 6-0-32-0, Dave Brooker  7-0-37-3, Toby Phillips 2-0-14-0
 
Earls Colne 20 Points, West Bergholt 6 Points
 
A great win for EC as we continue our pursuit of the promotion places…the current table is as follows. Its getting very, very tight up the top, we shouldn’t even rule out winning the league after Wormingford had a shocker today!, as they lost some of their lead and only need another one or two defeats and they will be in a pickle!…we have a massive, massive game next week vs Eight Ash Green WHO’S UP FOR IT?
 

In bright warm conditions, but with rain always in the visible distance, Earls Colne won the toss and elected to bat.  Chintesh Patel (29) and Archie Wilkinson (25) were the batsmen of note, but once again Colne failed to get going in the batting department and were dismissed fo just 130.

Excellent teas with home baked cakes and moist egg sandwiches were worth the trip alone.

Melton struggled against tight bowling and made agonisingly slow progress and were 50 for 3 after 22 overs and an unlikely win seeemd possible.  But no more breakthroughs came.  We changed the bowling to see if we could buy a wicket, but it didn’t work – Melton raced to the total scoring 30 runs in just 2 overs.  No names given to protect the innocent!

Earls Colne 130 all out.  Melton 131 for 3.

Earls Colne 3 points, Melton 20 points

Halstead visited and had a net, scoring 1,000 for no loss.  A nice day for their first teamers. (More accurate details to follow)

With a week of social networking misdemeanours on the international front, there were no such concerns as Colne travelled to the Real Oddies for a Sunday fixture on a Saturday.

With the hottest day of the year and a wicket that had a thick green top on the toss was won by the home side who thankfully chose to bat. 

With 3 debutants in James Flood, Dan Wade and Chris Jones all figuring, the side looker younger , fresher and thanks to Floody, taller!

With a tight start from Jordan Willey and Ben Mason only yielding 3 runs from the first 6 overs it seemed a good start from Colne. Ben got the breakthrough with a smart stumping from the stand-in skipper Harry and this was followed up by Jordan removing Reubin for 1.

At 14-2 off the first 10 overs Jordan was changed for the sprightly Nick Oakley. With a slip cordon reminiscent of the West Indies of the 1970’s Nick soon removed 3 batsmen with another smart stumping removing Sudra, leaving Nick finishing on 3-15 off 7 overs.

With Jon Brewer probing from one end and the captain still getting confused which was Chris and which was Dan, an inspired change bought the reliable Russell Dawes into action. With a pace and line like Ben’s they could almost be father and son. Russ removed Hepburn who top scored with 15 and then whilst still questioning the captain’s wisdom of placing him deep, Ben took a smart catch to remove Hewlett for 8. Russ then  finished with 2 in 2 when he bowled Singh with a straight one. 

A great team effort in the field saw Colne restrict the Oddies to 58 all out.  17 extras, Mason 2-8 off 7, Oakley 3-15 off 7, Dawes the pick with 3-1 off 1.2 

A decision to delay tea was taken and James Flood and Harry took to the crease in now subcontinental batting weather. With James dispatching balls to various parts the Oddies tried to keep their shape. At the other end Harry was watchful and kept the board ticking over. When James tried one launch too many and was stumped for an enterprising 20. Dave Brooker then came to the crease and batted well as he and Harry brought Colne to within 1 run of victory.

Hewlett then got one to turn which hit bat,pad before rolling onto middle bowling Dave for 9.

Jordan came to the crease and promptly dispatched his first ball for 4 to seal the win.

 It just goes to show you can have fun playing cricket for Colne on a Saturday!

Well done everyone!

Flood 20 Callaghan 19 not out Brooker 9 Earls Colne win by 8 wickets 20 points.

Sunday saw Kelvedon visiting and giving the casuals a game.

Earls Colne batted first and amassed 183 all out.  Mark Harris 41.

Kelvedon were 151 at the end of play, but with batsmen still at the crease, so the match was drawn. Mark Harris 2-21. Full report follows.