There's Only One Team In Rayleigh!

Local Rivals smashed by Brilliant 2s

The 2s produced arguably their best performance of the season to annihilate second placed local rivals Rayleigh 3s, collecting 26 points as they went on their merry way!

Fairview batted first, Dave Ambrose top scored with an agricultural 74, Elvis bludgeoned 71 and earlier Callum hit 61 all cashing in as the 2s piled up an impressive 292-5 in their 45 overs. Lee took a page out of the Jamie Lawson book of Captaincy and decided to open the bowling with spin in the form of Richard Skinner who took an impressive 4-48 from 12 overs including some unplayable deliveries. Dot Ball Dave Ashby weighed in with 2-38 and Elvis 2-4 and Gokul Haribabu claiming 1 in his only over with a smart return catch.

The result throws open the promotion race in Division 6 and a win this weekend against leaders St Johns Billericay will leave the 2s in a strong position heading into the 2nd half of the season.

The 1s suffered a narrow defeat in a game we really should have won. Chasing 257 to win we were well placed at 201-5 after 35 overs with Dawson and Spencer Collins at the crease, but it wasn't to be as the tail collapsed and we ended up 241-9. Earlier Grompton (40) and Tom Webster (64) had put on a great 2nd wicket partnership after Keating departed early doors. When Tom went the scoring rate dropped and some bad maths from Dawson and Spencer left the tail with too much to do, especially after Dawson was run out for 24 having hit some sweet cover drives and a fine pull despite taking his eye of the ball.

Stock had earlier scored at a consistent pace throughout their innings to set up a score of 256-6. Spencer made the early breakthroughs having one opener Stumped by some good work from Cuddles who also took a smart catch off the inside edge to send the no3 back to the dressing room. I removed the other opener when he drove to Nigel at point, having earlier not walked after edging one behind. Dan got one with a beauty that jagged in off the seam, it was just a shame he got spanked for three huge sixes beforehand. Jamie returned to some form in the final few overs, picking up a couple of late wickets.

There was more misery for the 3s as they were bowled out for just 60, Chignal chasing down the target in just the 7th over with 9 wickets in hand, and slide into the bottom two.

Results 22/06/2013

Stock CC 2nd XI 256-6 (25pts) beat RFCC 1st XI 241-9 (7pts) by 15 runs.
RFCC 2nd XI 292-5 (26pts) beat Rayleigh CC 3rd XI (2pts) by 163 runs
RFCC 3rd XI 60-10 (0pts) lost to Chignal CC 2nd XI 61-1 (26pts) by 9 wickets

Fixtures 29/06/2013

RFCC 1st XI v Havering atte bower CC 1st XI
St Johns Billericay 1st XI v RFCC 2nd XI
Navestock Ardleigh Green 2nd XI v RFCC 3rd XI

30/06/2013

Leigh on Sea Sunday XI v RFCC Sunday XI

* The views expressed within this blog are expressly my own and are not in anyway attributable to Rayleigh Fairview Cricket Club or any person connected to it in any way

Weather heaps more misery on the Three's

A tricky away day for the 3s ended with a whimper in the evening sunshine as the conditions conspired to hand  Broomfield 2s the advantage. and they completed a 61 run victory as we folded for 107 inside 27 overs.

The home side won the toss and chose to bat first under grey skies. It wasn't a great time to be in the field as the wind and rain persisted, forcing Jellett to spend most of the afternoon taking shelter under a tree. When the rain halted proceedings for a third time the hosts had amassed 168-4 from 28 overs. An early tea was taken and we waited, oh how we waited praying for one more shower that would have halted proceedings once and for all but it never came.

At 6.15 Kelvin and Cuddles strode to the crease, to begin the chase. Kelvin looked in good touch with two boundaries in the first over but the bright start didn't last long. The top order crumbled as we struggled to keep up with an ever rising run rate. By the time I found my way to the middle we were 68-6. Gary Whitham thumped his way to quick 30 clearing the trees on the boundary with one "I didn't feel like I got hold off". I managed a first ever 6 in a seasons best 22 but the tail quickly folded and we were soundly beaten.

The spin twins of Alec Hayward (3-30) and Spencer Collins (2-31) destroyed Hatfield Peveral 2s top order as they were dismantled for just 73 in response to 168-7 in 39 overs. "It was almost like proper Cricket today" chirped Barnsey in the bar "we had three slips and everything". Dawson and Sam Johnston quickly removed the tail to seal the victory. Jamie had earlier anchored the innings with a well crafted 55 and Callum McLean added some much needed impetus with five 4s in one over as he made a rapid 39.

There was more misery to come on Sunday, as we travelled to South Woodham Ferrers. Jellett shelled a tough chance in the 2nd over with the talented young opener going on the retire on 113. A steady 70 unbeaten from the number 3 leading the home side to 232-4. The batting failed once again for the Sunday side although we did register three figures for the first time ending 128 all out Cuddles leading the way with a fine 48. The highlight of the day was definitely the arrival of a hedgehog at extra cover midway through the home side's innings.

Results 15/06/2013

RFCC 1st XI 168-7 (22pts) beat Hatfield Peveral CC 2nd XI 73-10 (3pts) by 95 runs.
Broomfield CC 2nd XI 168-4 (22pts) beat RFCC 3rd XI 107-10 (2pts) by 61 runs

16/06/2013

SWF 232-4 beat RFCC Sunday XI 128-10 by 104 runs.

* The views expressed within this blog are expressly my own and are not in anyway attributable to Rayleigh Fairview Cricket Club or any person connected to it in any way



The Curse of 250.

"Tom we need one off four balls make sure we get 250" Lee said as Webster strode purposefully to the crease to replace Elvis. Oh dear. 250 would normally be a good thing but not when you play for Rayleigh Fairview. Tom did what he was told we got 250, full batting bonus points, thanks very much! A very solid eight out of ten tea followed and we went back out onto the field feeling confident.

Misplaced. Somehow that confidence was exactly that, and some of us misplaced our abilities too. What followed was a 41.2 over horror show. "Nice to be not trying to defend 85" I had joked with Lee earlier, I am not sure we would of defended 385 if it had come to it. Dropped catches (wakey wakey Tom), a missed run out (I've never had much of an arm, sorry), and a 15 yard boundary we just couldn't defend. Our 11th man was also misplaced at Football Tournament until it was too late for him to make it. Make of that what you will. The solitary moment of joy was all of Elvis' own doing taking an excellent one handed chance off his own bowling.

The batting began brightly Jellbum and Matt Feather pushing the score along nicely until Jellet decided he was bored and it was time for someone else to have a go. Soon after both McLeans had been dismissed and we were in a little trouble. In came Elvis just the man for the moment. Matt continued on his merry way passing 50 before taking a beamer on the side of the head. Fair play to him he got up, unfazed and ended up carrying his bat for a maiden century of 102. Elvis sent pensioners and scorers diving for cover as he peppered the long off and long on boundaries and there we were 250-4 in 45 overs, Job Done. Or so we thought.

The 1s snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Great Waltham. Niall's big paw clutching a smart return catch to seal the deal with 7 runs to spare after Jamie set things up with terrific figures of 6-39 from his full allocation. A top bowling effort from all to defend a modest 164-5 made mainly thanks to Spenny who top scored with 75.

In the 3s it was Kelvin, Alan and the kids against high flying Rainham 2's and it didn't last long. Batting first they were knocked over for 79 and Cuddles' middle stump is still cartwheeling now!

Sunday marvellous Sunday

We were promised sun, it didn't arrive until we had all but lost. The opening pair promised runs. They didn't arrive either and even worse Phil Turner's daughter didn't arrive which nearly ended up with the game being called off! Hugh Henry and his guts certainly arrived though and shortly after so did 8 overs 4 for 17. Our top order departed. Swiftly. Phil Turner offered some resistance with 15 then I somehow hacked and carved my way to 20 and we crept up to 95 all out in 34.5 overs. Minds were elsewhere. Sorry Phil and Joe!

Facing a steep challenge, Jellet caught one at short mid off in the first over and Anson's were 1-1 and when Big Ash Faires struck they were wobbling at 22-2. A run out and a wicket from Jamie had them 72-4 but Ansons walked it in the end. That rarest of things was even seen as Jellet somehow got a wicket with the funniest bowling ever seen at the Sports & Social Club. Comedy genius and a fitting end to a match played in the right way!

Results

RFCC 1st XI 164-5 (22pts) beat Great Waltham CC 1st XI 157-10 (3pts) by 7 runs.
Danbury CC 1st XI 251-1 (26pts) beat RFCC 2nd XI 250-4 (5pts) by 9 wickets.
Rainham CC (Essex) 2nd XI 81-4 (26pts) beat RFCC 3rd XI 79-10 (2pts) by 6 wickets.
RFCC Sunday XI 95-10 lost to Anson St George CC Sunday XI 96-5 by 5 wickets.

* The views expressed within this blog are expressly my own and are not in anyway attributable to Rayleigh Fairview Cricket Club or any person connected to it in any way.

The Curse of 250 Strikes Again!

Now 250 should be something to look back on with pride should it not? Well not at Rayleigh Fairview it isn't. Its fast becoming something that strikes fear into the heart! "Nice not to be trying to defend 85 as a bowler" I cheekily said to Lee Hayward as Stuart Warren and Matt Feather plundered Danbury's bowling to all corners. I had certainly spoken too soon when Danbury's batsmen (all 3 of them!) deposited our bowlers past and over the 15 yard boundary again and again and we went down by 9 wickets.

This week it was the turn of the 1's. Full of confidence after beating Great Waltham the week before and a game against bottom of the table East Hanningfield and Great Burstead, a team who had lost 5 from 5 there really wasn't anything to fear.

Then of course it happened. EH&GB rattled up 250 on the nose. We never even got close. I had barely warmed up my scoring pencil and there were Ames, Crompton and those Lawson brothers all arguing over who was going to take umpiring duties whilst myself and the Hayward's wondered how on earth we were going to get the runs. We needn't have worried we weren't going to get them and we didn't.

The game started badly as runs flowed from the bats of EH&GB's openers and before you knew it they had a fifty partnership. Dawson finally made the breakthrough with a classic long hop edged behind and safely taken by Ames and followed it up by disturbing their number 3s timbers. Dawson in partnership with Alec Hayward stemmed the run rate considerably in the middle overs. I managed to conjure up a candidate for worst celebration of the season including the word booyaka! and to make matters worse it wasn't exactly a great piece of bowling either. Safe hands Jellet snared one at short extra off Alec to get them 4 down and when I finally got a yorker right I backed it up with a much better celebration, to be fair it couldn't of been any worse. After that little went right for us and we all walked off for tea with EH&GB 250-5 with the writing well and truly on the wall.

The batting was woeful. Grompton hit a nice late cut for two to get us started, then edged to the slips, Jawson edged behind, Dawson missed a straight one (that's normally what happens when you get bowled Dan!!) and Ames smashed one to midwicket and before you know it were about 40-4 and us tailenders are scrambling through our kit bags. The procession continued unabated and when yours truly was last out for a paltry 2 we were done for 112, with the Great Raymondo stranded on 35.

Better news came from the 2s who smashed their way to 325-5 and won by 216 with standout performances from James McLean 132, Dave Ambrose 94, Matt Knight 53, Big Ash Faires 4-14 and Dot Ball Dave Ashby 3-27.

Kelvin and the kids were hammered again but at least made a fight of it after being bowled out for 78 by Rankins 3s as they lost by 4 wickets.

Role on next weekend and if either side gets 250 on the nose then there will be more tales of woe to come of that you can be sure!

Results
EH & GBCC 1st XI 250-5 (26pts) beat RFCC 1st XI 112 All Out (2pts) by 138 runs
RFCC 2nd XI 325-5 (26pts) beat Navestock Ardleigh Green CC 2nd XI 109 (2pts) by 216 runs
RFCC 3rd XI 78-10 (3pts) lost to Rankins CC 3rd XI 79-6 (26pts) by 4 wickets

Fixtures. 15/06/2013.
RFCC 1st XI vs Hatfield Peveral CC 2nd XI.
Broomfield CC 2nd XI vs RFCC 3rd XI.

16/06/2013
South Woodham Ferrers CC Friendly XI vs RFCC Sunday 1st XI

* The views expressed within this blog are expressly my own and are not in anyway attributable to Rayleigh Fairview Cricket Club or any person connected to it in any way.