Chelmsford Cricket Club Report for 5 & 6 August, 2006 Chelmsford CC celebrated President’s Day weekend in spectacular fashion, holding an inter-club match on the main square as the 1st XI took on the victorious 2004 MatchPlay squad, but more importantly by winning all five fixtures on Saturday. Yes, for the second time in three weeks, all four league teams won their Shepherd Neame games, and the fifth team also won their friendly to make it a perfect score. The biggest result of the weekend was the Saturday 1st XI’s marvellous victory over a star-studded Hornchurch side. A mammoth partnership of 182 between the Prowting brothers helped Chelmsford to a total that proved just too large for Hornchurch, who were bowled out in the last over. Hornchurch were also at the receiving end of a beating from Chelmsford’s 2nd XI, who chased a difficult total of 230 for the loss of just 3 wickets. Keith Goodman bowled well but only took 2 wickets and 17-year-old Nick Bailey scored an accomplished century. The 3rd team returned to winning ways after their only defeat of the season the previous week. West Essex posted a reasonable total, despite Imran Akhtar taking 3 wickets for 10 runs, but 97 runs from captain Barry Clayden ensured defeat was never an option for Chelmsford. Chelmsford’s 4th XI continued their belated challenge for the Premier Division title with their fourth consecutive win. Ali-Reza Panjwani and Alistair Baldwin (3-17) exploited an uneven wicket to limit Hainault & Clayhall to 122; Panjwani taking his debut 5-wicket haul for the cost of just 40 runs. The visitors employed the ample time available to cruise home by 5 wickets, with Chris Karunaratna (36) continuing his run of good form. The 5th team topped off a wonderful day with a comfortable victory away at Hutton. The home side were bowled out for 154 with 14-year-old Ijaz Akhtar returning amazing figures of 10-5-16-2. Omar Riasat scored his debut half-century in reply, and with added help from Rajan Patel (50*) and Tom Halsey (33), Chelmsford won by 9 wickets. President’s Day brought with it fun, laughter, cricket and an enormous selection of cakes. The main attraction was provided by the intense tussle between the Sunday 1st team and the ex-MatchPlay squad who won the tournament two years previously. Despite excellent performances from Chris Prowting and Mark Drain, the adult side prevailed, with Matthew Thurston hitting an aggressive 72. The MatchPlay side had the distinction of being the only Chelmsford side not to win all weekend. The Sunday 2nd XI and Under-13s both won their fixtures. The Sunday 2s triumphed on home turf against their neighbours Galleywood. Ali Baldwin (5-42) and Barry Hetherington (2-2) put the skids under Galleywood but captain Ian McDermott helped them post 141. Chelmsford stuttered in response, but an excellent partnership of 60 between Andrew Thurston (43) and Ali-Reza Panjwani (24*) saw them home by 3 wickets. The under-13s sneaked a two wicket win over Horndon-on-the-Hill. At 43 for four in response to Horndon-on-the-Hill’s 147, it looked like curtains for Chelmsford. Jack Stevens and Alex Shepherd provided the batting heroics. Reports Saturday 5th August 1st Team Shepherd Neame Essex League Division 1 Played at Hornchurch CHELMSFORD I 291-7 HORNCHURCH 284 all out (Chelmsford won by 7 runs) Chelmsford made it two wins out of two against Hornchurch this season, overcoming them by 7 runs in an exciting game. Chelmsford won the toss and chose to bat first on a very good wicket, with a fast outfield. Chelmsford started off slowly but Paveling and Jones started to build some momentum before Jones went for 21. 36 for 1 soon became 50 for 3 as Paveling (18) and Thurston (11) went in quick succession. Chelmsford were looking in serious trouble until brothers Nick and Chris Prowting put on a stand of 182. Both showed class and superb stroke play and the running between the wickets was very impressive as they ran the Hornchurch fielders ragged. When Chris Prowting fell for a well made 84, wickets started to tumble with Chelmsford looking for quick runs. Nick Prowting was left not out on 110 off just 100 balls, as Chelmsford made a positive declaration before the 52 overs. Chelmsford knew Hornchurch had a quality batting line up and were always going to go for the win. However, Chelmsford made the better start when Lawrence picked up an early wicket, but Flanagan and Beazleigh started to hit some big boundaries. 17 year old Mark Drain bowled a good spell (1-40) including the breakthrough and the key wicket of Flanagan (40). Neil Fergus dismissed Beazleigh for 44, which brought Gladwin and Rollins to the crease. Both batsmen began to play some big shots but the lack of pace and agility between the two meant singles were hard to come by as Chelmsford showed their youth with some excellent fielding. Gladwin started to get frustrated, especially when Thurston came on to bowl with a consistent line and length. Matt Poole then came back on and broke the partnership and Chelmsford knew they were right back in it, knowing there wasn’t much batting left. Chelmsford picked up wickets at regular intervals, Poole (4-93) and Lawrence (3-76) the main destroyers. Amongst the wickets were some fantastic catches, especially from Fergus and Drain. The game twisted again when Lynch hit three big sixes, but fortunately he was bowled by Poole soon after. From the final over Chelmsford needed 1 wicket for victory, with Hornchurch requiring 11 runs. Hornchurch went for a risky second run and Lawrence gathered the ball cleanly and hit the stumps for the run out to give Chelmsford the victory. Again, team spirit took Chelmsford to victory. Chelmsford are now equal on points at the top of the table with Chingford. 2nd Team Shepherd Neame Essex League Premier Division Played at Chelmer Park HORNCHURCH 229-9 CHELMSFORD II 235-3 (Chelmsford won by 7 wickets) True to form, a dominant batting display followed a disaster as the second team saw off Hornchurch. A scintillating maiden hundred at this level from Nick Bailey was the obvious highlight. Chris Meer struck twice in his opening spell to put the skids under Hornchurch. Keith Goodman (2-53 from 17 overs) kept a check on the scoring and he struck twice in one over to make it 89 for four from 24 overs. Benson (54) and Sardar (52) played steadily to ensure a decent total. It was Neill (35) though who raised the tempo before he was one of three victims for Nigel Bond (3-48), all caught by Gary Chidley, one a superb effort. An untidy finish in the field saw Hornchurch post 229 for nine, a respectable total, made to look even better when Harper-Horn claimed a wicket in his first over. That brought Bailey to the crease and he and David Thrift put together a brilliant partnership. The bowlers seemed to become fixated on the middle of the strip, despite the flow of boundaries and runs came apace. Thrift (58) was out at 140 in the 20th over of the innings but Bailey was totally unphased by that and continued to punish the bowling. After completing his hundred, Bailey saw the side through to a win, ending the match unbeaten on 115 with a six. Rob Hayto (33) supported him most of the way in a mixed bag of an innings. Leaders Wanstead await in the next match and on current trends can expect an easy win some time around 5.45 next Saturday. 3rd Team Shepherd Neame Essex League Division 1 Played at Chelmer Park WEST ESSEX 214 all out CHELMSFORD III 220-3 (Chelmsford won by 7 wickets) Back to winning ways and with 10 overs to spare. A damp pitch inspired us to insert West Essex but did not discourage their naturally aggressive strokeplay. Craig Thompson bowled a fine opening spell taking two wickets, the second courtesy of an outstanding slip catch by Barry Clayden. Alistair Fergus and Chandra Gholap both bowled threatening spells but with no luck. Our luck turned as a silly run out removed opener M Zahoor for 37. Young spinners Chai Pandya (1-42) and Anthony Holland (1-31) slowed the run rate before captain A Ali revived the innings with an excellent 51 no. Imran Akhtar then polished off the tail taking 3 for 10 in 6.5 overs. Pandya became our 10th different opening batsman this season but did not last long. Clayden and Dave Goddard coped with excessive noise levels and some ridiculous sledging in a partnership of 114 before Goddard (36) fell to a bizarre stumping. Simon Balmford (52no) then continued his fine run of form playing in his usual forthright manner leaving Clayden on 97 with the scores level. With fielders on the boundary to prevent his century West Essex gained a further bonus point when he was caught off the fifth ball leaving Rupert Redman to smash the next ball for six to round off the victory. 4th Team Shepherd Neame Essex League Premier Division Played at Clayhall Park HAINAULT & CLAYHALL 122 all out CHELMSFORD IV 123-5 (Chelmsford won by 5 wickets) 5th Team Friendly Played at Hutton HUTTON 154 all out CHELMSFORD V 155-1 (Chelmsford won by 9 wickets) Sunday 6th August Friendly Played at Chelmer Park CHELMSFORD I 239-8 MATCHPLAY 2004 187 all out (Chelmsford 1st XI won by 52 runs) Experience triumphed over youth although stupidity was definitely on show from both sides. The old team were rocked at the start by Mark Drain, who caused considerable discomfort in a lively and tidy opening spell. Matt Thurston and Nick Prowting dug their team out of trouble and went on to make commanding half centuries. Simon Evans and Paul Jones then took the score beyond 200. Drain returned to the attack to claim Jones’ wicket and finish with a remarkable three for 5. Thurston showed his all round ability with a couple of wickets before taking over the wicket-keeping. Chris Prowting though was looking in ominous touch and with Dan Evans-Green giving useful support the game was well set. Both fell victim to the wiles of Eddie Lawrence and the batting from then on was rather slapdash. Drain and Chai Pandya played some good shots but the innings petered out with Gary Chidley claiming three cheap wickets. 2nd Team Friendly Played at Chelmer Park GALLEYWOOD 141 all out CHELMSFORD II 144-7 (Chelmsford won by 3 wickets) Under-13s Peter Coe Cup Played at Horndon-on-the-Hill Recreation Ground HORNDON-ON-THE-HILL 147-7 CHELMSFORD 151-8 (Chelmsford won by 2 wickets) A victory in their final group match leaves Chelmsford hoping for other results to go their way if they are to emerge as group winners. Four wins, one rain-off and a single defeat gives them an outside chance of qualification. A below par performance proved just enough. Horndon’s innings had been dominated by Joyce (77) who played with impressive maturity and quality. Tidy spells from Alex Shepherd (0-21 from 6 overs) and Jack Stevens (1-14 from 5) helped restrict the total to 147 from the allotted 30 overs. Chelmsford hoped that one of their top four could play such a controlled knock. Those hopes disappeared in smoke when they collapsed to 43 for four. It took a couple of under-11s, Stevens and Max Balmford to steady the ship. With a healthy smattering of extras the scoring rate soared but then wickets started to fall, including Stevens run out for 19. Shepherd and Tom McGraw reacted commendably and with good placement, running and hard-hitting from Shepherd, Chelmsford won with 11 balls and 2 wickets to spare. For the second week running, Shepherd (31*) hit a four to end the match.