Would you Adam and Eve it a tie!

These results don't come around often and thank the lord that they don't because it isn't good for one's nerves! Batting first the 1's started brightly with the new opening partnership of Crompton and son setting a great platform with a fifty plus stand. Grompton was joined at the crease by Dawson. Between them they set us up for a great score, Grompton finally fell caught at long off for a fine 94. By this time Dawson had started to open up, timing the ball sweetly to all corners. Jawson stroked a quick 12 before driving to cover and Dawson finally fell in the penultimate over for a classy 68. Ambrose and Keats took us to a good total of 228 and four bonus points.

Great Waltham started steadily with the bat, however neither Jawson or myself could find a breakthrough. Dawson continued his fine match when he finally bowled D Bloom for 36 knocking back his leg stump. Elgar followed him in similar fashion as Waltham finally tried to up the run rate. Dawson struck for a third time following some great work behind the timbers from Barnsey, stumping the dangerous Patel for a well made 84. With wickets in hand Waltham were still favourites although the run rate was still rising. Inspired captaincy from Jawson followed as he reintroduced myself and himself to the bowling attack in the closing overs. First G Bloom slapped one from me to Jawson in the gully, then M Elgar, skied a chance to Jawson in the gully again and although this one was taken less cleanly, Jawson hung on. The game was still in the balance. Jamie then had Waltham skipper Swan caught behind for 8. Two overs to go, 22 needed, my first ball disappeared over the fence for 6, then 4.  Oh no I thought I have to leave Jamie something to defend in the last over. A couple of singles followed and a two, then more drama, O Fitzwalter bowled attempting one big hit too many. So the last over. Jamie to bowl, 7 runs needed. Much scrambling off the first 4 balls and they need 1 off 2. Back of a length from Jamie play and miss. 1 off 1 to win. Back of a length again from Jamie, missed again, taken cleanly by Barnsey who runs two yards forward and throws down the stumps. All eyes  were on the umpire, then the finger went up, and there was jubilation all round and despair for the hosts, game tied and 18 valuable points in the bag.

The 2s got their promotion chase back on track against a strong Danbury side. Batting first Graeme Webster with 60 and Callum 87 set up a good total of 238. Danbury should have chased the total down but some selfish batting from Richards who was more interested in getting a century than winning the game cost them dearly, and they came up 5 runs short.

For the 3s it was another tough day. Up against Rainham 2s who will win Division 9 without breaking a sweat. Rainham won the toss and batted first piling up 258-3 with Alex Sullivan carrying his bat for 123 not out. The chase never really got going Chips top scoring with a good 40 but 258 was always going to be too  much for them as they finally folded for 150.

Results 03/08/2013

Great Waltham CC 1st XI 228-8 (16pts) tied with RFCC 1st XI 228-4 (18pts)
RFCC 2nd XI 238-6 (23pts) beat Danbury CC 1st XI 233-6 (7pts) by 5 runs.
RFCC 3rd XI 150-10 (2pts) lost to Rainham CC (Essex) 2nd XI (26pts) by 108 runs.

Fixtures 10/08/2013

RFCC 1st XI v East Hanningfield & Great Burstead 1st XI
Navestock Ardleigh Green 1st XI v RFCC 2nd XI
RFCC 3rd XI v Broomfield 2nd 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.

Shocking weekend as we all get beaten!

This one was a shocker, from top to bottom we all got beaten and pretty soundly at that. In the 1s we just didn't get the basics right, two run outs, five dropped catches, wides and no-balls we gave Rankins 1s the lot. 

Jamie won the toss and elected to bat, and things were going well as Grompton and Skinner put 46 on the board. Dawson and Skinner where then involved in a calamitous run out poor Skinner sent packing. It sent a shock wave through the middle order and from 46-0 we were suddenly 62-5 in no time. Barnsey and Josh Crompton added a valuable stand of 63 but the tail failed to support Barnsey and he ended unbeaten in a classy knock of 47 with us all out for 146. 

With the weather looking threatening the Rankins batsmen set off with intent. Neither Tom or Jamie could find the breakthrough, although Alec put down a chance in the gully off the in form Lees who was also reprieved by Skinner in the deep and by Tom from his own stuff. Alec then put him down again off his own bowling as the lefty lead a charmed life. After Matt Smith smashed his nose in and winded himself attempting a forward diving catch, Skinner finally made the breakthrough with a smart catch off his own bowling to remove Greenfield for 58, ending an opening partnership of 119. The big hitting Sutherby then came and went spooning a catch to Grompton at mid off, attempting to repeat a six over my head earlier in the over. Lees was then put down again by Alec off my bowling doing some damage to his thumb in the process, which lead to some hilarious banter in the field that ultimately lead to the demise of Bolton who was still giggling when Skinner turned one in sharply bowl him just 5 runs short of victory. Lees took them home unbeaten with 66 and 27 overs to spare. A poor performance which leaves us looking perilously over our shoulders in the league table.

The 2s suffered a shock defeat which seriously harms their promotion hopes in Division 6. Rettendon 2s running up 246-7 in their 45 overs. Dot ball Dave Ashby who has cemented his place in the 2s now, lead the attack again picking up 2-52.  With the bat it was all about the returning Richard Casey who crafted a beautiful 108 in just his second game of the year. Other than the G Man with 24 nobody offered much support to Casey though and Sean Butler struck regular blows with to end with figures of 5-45, as the 2s closed 209 all out. They will need to bounce back next week against Danbury if they are to stay in the hunt for promotion. 

Visitors Willow Herbs 2s batted first at the Memorial Ground. There we steady performances from all the home bowlers. Phil Turner leading the way with 3-28. Youngsters George Nichols and James Hedges supported Phil well with two scalps a piece. Andy Rowe's 79 failed to inspire the rest of the batsmen however, unfortunately other than Cuddles nobody else made a score of more than 5 as the side quickly crumbled for 130. Points are needed soon for the 3s or they could be heading for Division 10 next year.

Dawson secured his first win as Sunday captain hitting a match winning 32 not out to lead his men home against Navestock with a senior best 19 from the improving Stef King. The home side had scored 151 batting first and despite taking regular wickets couldn't remove Dan to prevent the defeat.

Results 27/07/2013

RFCC  1st XI 146-10 (1pt) by 7 wickets lost to Rankins CC 1st XI 150-3 (23pts) 

Rettendon CC 2nd XI 246-7 (25pts) beat RFCC 2nd XI 209-10 (5pts) by 37 runs.

RFCC 3rd XI 130-10 (5pts) lost to Willow Herbs 2nd XI 224-10 (24pts) by 94 runs

28/07/2013

Navestock Ardleigh Green 151-10 lost to RFCC Sunday XI 152-8 by 2 wickets.

Fixtures

03/08/2013

Great Waltham CC 1st XI v RFCC 1st XI

RFCC 2nd XI v Danbury CC 1st XI

RFCC 3rd XI v Rainham (Essex) CC 2nd 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