Little Clacton v Little Baddow Cricket Club Sunday NECL XI on Sun 23 Jul 2006 at 2.00pm
Little Baddow Cricket Club Lost 44 runs
Another hot afternoon, flat pitch, fast outfield and a Herongate-like short boundary on one side. So the skipper loses the toss and isn't surprised to be fielding first.
The opposition started steadily against Ross & James' tidy opening spells and the former picked up the first wicket, caught by Chris Harmer, in the 8th over with the score at 45. The next partnership maintained a consistent 5 an over rate over the next
20 overs reaching 148 after 30 overs. Although the intention was to use Tom as a batsman, it was clear Lt Clacton were in a strong position to accelerate over the remaining 15 so the skipper switched to plan B which very soon bore fruit with Lloyd going for 68 and Parlour 73 (neither looking to be keen on Tom's pace). Tom finished with 5 of the 6 wickets and the innings closed at 252-6.
This total seemed no more than a par score and although we had a very inexperienced and young side (9 players 21 and under), there was enough talent to achieve our target.
Chris Salmon started very briskly and took the score to 34 after 4 overs though Rob Tuttlebee was out at this stage. The skipper was bowled via bat and pad soon afterwards and worse was to follow when Tom Golding took a nasty blow to the face via a top edge and was forced to retire hurt with just 2 more runs added. With a further wicket falling almost immediately, and it becoming clear that Tom would play no further part, we were suddenly 47 for 4.
Chris and Mickey steadied the ship moving the score to 109 after 17 overs and whilst at least one of them remained we still had a decent chance. Mickey was adjudged lbw by Ross (clearly keen to build on his previous weeks knock!) and Jamie Greenwood then kept Chris company until the latter was bowled for a good 64.
After James Stevens had fallen cheaply, Ross got his chance and he and Jamie put on almost 50 before Jamie was out for a fine, if somewhat unorthodox, 44. With the rate finally growing to unmanageable levels the final wickets fell to leave us 44 short on 208 and our unbeaten league run at an end.
Little Baddow Cricket Club Sunday NECL XI Batting
208 for 10
Little Clacton Bowling
Little Clacton Batting
252 for 6
Little Baddow Cricket Club Sunday NECL XI Bowling