Little Baddow Cricket Club Sunday NECL XI v Abberton 2 on Sun 22 Jul 2007 at 2.00pm
Little Baddow Cricket Club Won 37 runs
The pitch looked dry and flat as ever and we elected to bat first. Batting turned out to be a bit trickier than expected however. Abberton's opening attack bowled tight and the top broke up on occasions leading to several deliveries "popping". Steve and Calvin grafted their way to 48 in the 18th over before the former was caught by a diving catch at point. John and Tom both got starts but couldn't turn it into a good score.
Duncan and Calvin were able to accelerate once the bowling changes were enforced and they took the score to 205 in the 40th over before Duncan fell for 28 and Calvin for 124 in that same over. At this stage a total of 230 seemed likely but David Jenkins had other ideas and blasted a quickfire unbeaten 37 (6 fours & a six) to take us to 262 which turned out to be crucial.
Abberton's openers started well and Brown in particular looked a quality bat. They put on a 100 stand within 18 overs and two or three bowling changes had failed to break things up. However, Alex F. enjoying a welcome return to form had Brown LBW for 54 and as is often the case the other opener Lingard followed in his next over mistiming a sweep to Chris H. for 49.
At this stage, John T. had been brought into the attack and the pairing of Alex (4-49) and John (2-30), with pitch conditions in their favour, proceeded to literally "turn" the game Little Baddow's way over the next dozen overs. With less than 100 needed from the final 12 overs Abberton still had chances with 5 wickets standing but Alex Jenkins joined the attack and bowled his best spell for the club in picking up 2 for 25 in 6 overs. Abberton finally fell 37 short.
Little Baddow Cricket Club Sunday NECL XI Batting
262 for 6
Abberton 2 Bowling
Abberton 2 Batting
225 for 9
Little Baddow Cricket Club Sunday NECL XI Bowling