Gt Bentley II v Little Baddow Cricket Club Sunday NECL XI on Sun 05 Jun 2005 at 2pm
Little Baddow Cricket Club Won 1 wicket
A combination of GCSEs for the older lads and an under 15 game in the morning left us with a very different looking side for the long journey to Great Bentley. Sadly, young Adam Harris was struck down with migraine shortly before the start (get well soon Adam), so only 10 of us took the field. We were glad to be bowling first on a slow, low wicket and long outfield and early runs were hard to come by. Tom Golding bowled a miserly 10 over spell for just 6 runs and was unfortunate not to take more than 1 wicket. The scoring rate was less than 2 an over for the first 30 overs or so, and although wickets fell regularly, we were unable to press home the advantage. A late surge from numbers 8 and 9 pushed the scoring rate up and the innings closed on 138 for 9 after 45 overs. The youngsters all tried hard and ended with creditable figures. Young Alex Jenkins, in his first adult game, showed good promise as a left arm inswing bowler and Dad David, also in his first game for the club, chipped in with 3 well-taken catches.
The usual strategy with the batting order was applied, ie send in 2 or 3 adults to get us off to a good start, then the younger lads to give them experience, with a sprinkling of experience held back in case the tail was needed. Sadly, parts one and two didn't work out too well, and we found ourselves scrabbling about to pad up as early wickets fell in quick succession. The sixth over in particular was not pretty, with 3 wickets falling in 4 balls to leave us at 18 for 5. A further wicket in the 13th over, followed by Tom Golding being run out by a superb piece of fielding to his first delivery, left as tottering at 25 for 7. David Jenkins and the skipper set about rebuilding and moved the score along to 56 before the latter perished for 22, leaving the scene set for last man Andy Harris. An unbroken stand of 84 for the last wicket left Great Bentley heartbroken, with Andy stroking his way to an elegant 64 not out. David supported him ably to finish unbeaten on 22, showing the younger lads (and some of the older ones!) the importance of a solid defensive game. Victory came with 7 balls remaining
Little Baddow Cricket Club Sunday NECL XI Batting
140 for 8
Gt Bentley II Bowling
Gt Bentley II Batting
138 for 9
Little Baddow Cricket Club Sunday NECL XI Bowling