Chelmsford Claim Wins for Bob Shortman- RIP.

Saturday 8th May, the start of a new league campaign for club cricket; not only across Essex, but up and down the UK. As the curtains were pulled on pre-season friendlies, the time had come for the competitive cricket season and the league campaigns.

However, most game had to be postponed by another week for the majority of players as the bad weather- heavy rain and high winds, spread across Essex throughout Saturday morning. This meant that a plethora of cricket games were cancelled due to said conditions.

Nevertheless, we were able to have two of our teams play on Saturday; being the first and second team.

Below are the match reports from Saturday 8th May…

1st XI vs Colchester (Home) – League.

Colchester 123 all out from 38.1 overs. Chelmsford 124/7 from 39 overs.

Chelmsford win by 3 wickets.

Despite the morning’s weather there was one game that was able to proceed down at Chelmer Park; Chelmsford vs Colchester, in the first round of fixtures in the Essex Premier Division. Luckily, the rain eased at roughly midday which meant the covers and sheets were taken off and the umpires, David Griffiths and Keith Oram, scheduled play to begin at 2pm. Reducing the overs from 50 per side to 40 due to the delay in start of play.

Chelmsford won the toss and placed Colchester with the task of batting first and setting a score- which would prove to be tough considering the weather conditions that were casted over them.

Colchester began the match very well, knocking the ball around nicely and getting a feel for the pitch, managing to reach the 9th over on 48 runs without a loss of a wicket. However, this comfortable start from Colchester flipped as in their next three overs they lost two wickets, both coming from Chelmsford seamer Liam Keaney. Colchester were now 55/2 in their first 10 overs.

Despite the loss of their first two wickets, Colchester kept the scoreboard ticking over with mainly singles as this was the most prolific method of scoring with Chelmsford’s tight and well-maintained field. The visitors were 71/2 off 16 overs when Ben Waring took the scalp of Colchester’s principal figure-batsman Joe MacGregor for 24 off 46 balls, as MacGregor edged the ball into the slip cordon where Jack Sterland took the catch after initially fumbling at first opportunity. This 17th over was a wicket-maiden for Waring. Colchester were now 71/3.

Ben Waring proved to be a tough bowler for Colchester to face as his next three overs after his wicket-maiden would also be maidens.

Just before the half-way stage in Colchester’s innings, with the batting side at 82/3, James Clifford removed Jack Hobbs for 1 run off 17 balls, after the batsman chipped a shot into the air and into the grasp of Liam Keaney who made the comfortable catch. Colchester were 82/4 going into the 20th over.

In his next over, J. Clifford would get another wicket, this time a stumping from wicket-keeper Brad Green to batsman Charlie Fernandes, who went marching on 18 runs off 35 balls. With the score now at 83/5, Chelmsford could feel themselves getting into a rhythm.

Colchester managed to get themselves to 94/5 in the 26th over before losing another wicket. James Clifford this time bowling out Keir Young for 1 run off 12 balls. Now Colchester found themselves 94/6 after 26 overs.

In the next over, Captain Sterland took off the efficient Chelmsford spinners and brought back seamer, Andy Styan, into the attack. The change worked as Styan got Oliver Hills edging off to keeper Green for 12 runs off 20 balls. With the score now reading 94/7, Colchester looked to be in trouble.

However, the away side somewhat steadied the ship and looked decently strong in the next six overs. Seeing off Chelmsford’s occasional but seemingly consistent barrage of wickets, Colchester got the score to 107/7 with 7 overs remaining.

Chelmsford’s next wicket came when Brad Green stumped Vikas Agarwal for 1 (11) off all-rounder Oliver Devenish’s wide ball. Colchester were 109/8 from 34 overs. Devenish then picked up another wicket in the first ball of his next over, bowling Dan Thacker out for just 3 runs off 5 balls. Liam Keaney wrapped up Colchester’s innings when he bowled Kieran Savill out for 12 (45) in the 39th over. Colchester set Chelmsford a score of 123 to win.

Highlighted players from scorecard from this innings: Chelmsford Bowling:

- Keaney - 3 wickets. 1 maiden. 20 runs conceded. 7.1 overs bowled. - J. Clifford - 3 wickets. 29 runs conceded. 8 overs bowled. - Oliver Devenish – 2 wickets. 33 runs conceded. 8 overs bowled.

Colchester Batting:

- Darren Eckford – 22 runs off 23 balls. - Joe MacGregor – 24 runs off 46 balls. - Charlie Fernandes – 18 runs off 35 balls.

After a quick turnaround between innings due to the delayed start, Chelmsford found themselves at the crease with openers Robert Catchpole and captain Jack Sterland. However, the opening pair wouldn’t be together for long as Catchpole was given out LBW to Ben Stephens on the second ball. Nick Prowting was the new batsman.

Chelmsford looked to be intense with the run rate to match Colchester’s quick start with the bat but didn’t last long as the hosts lost their second wicket when captain Sterland was bowled out from a very good delivery from Stephens. The Colchester bowler seemed to be in good form in this early period of the season. Chelmsford were now 20/2 from the first 5 overs. After Sterland was dispatched, James Clifford stepped up to the crease, and with Prowting, was handed the task of recovering Chelmsford’s game because of the early loss of wickets.

However, in the 8th over the home side found themselves 22/3 after Vikas Agarwal trapped Prowting LBW for 4 runs from 22 balls. Chelmsford were now at 22/3 going into the 9th over and the next batsman to cross the white line onto the field was Jack Cook. The hosts of Chelmer Park struggled against Agarwal as he picked up a maiden in his next two overs and only conceded 4 runs from the 12 balls.

James Clifford took most of the strike and as Chelmsford’s 15th over approached, the score was 40/3 after J. Clifford and J. Cook put together a little cameo partnership of 18. But Charlie Fernandes would break this decent partnership and bowled J. Cook out for just 2 runs off 17 balls. Chelmsford were back to square one of having to rebuild with a new batsman and now being 40/4 meant that Colchester were certainly in the driver’s seat in the game.

With the both extremely talented Clifford brothers (James and Ben) at the crease, Chelmsford hoped they would put on a strong partnership to reignite their innings and potentially make it easier for the lower order batsman. This however wouldn’t be the case, as on the fifth ball B. Clifford faced, he was bowled. Charlie Fernandes picking up another one. Chelmsford were now 44/5 in the 17th over and Colchester’s bowling looked well oiled.

The hosts were struggling in the middle and now had Brad Green to accompany J. Clifford. But these two certainly weren’t in the mood to rollover easily or quickly, as they survived 8 overs together and also putting on what was a good innings steadying partnership of 18 runs in the context of the match. But sadly for Chelmsford, Colchester’s Dan Thacker broke this partnership when James Clifford attempted an advancing shot looking for a boundary only for the ball to get caught up in the wind and the batsman was caught by Darren Eckford. Chelmsford found themselves 63/6 from 26 overs.

After picking up two wickets with the ball, it was time for Oliver Devenish to step in with the bat- and my word did he deliver. Despite having their backs up against the wall, Devenish and Green remained calm and composed to survive 7 overs together and produce a very good partnership of 32. Subsequently, Brad Green was sent marching when the umpire gave him out LBW from a Dan Thacker delivery in the 34th over. Green’s score of 23 runs off 43 balls was vital in what turned out to be a crucial knock to steady Chelmsford’s innings.

At 94/7 Devenish was now partnered with Keaney and with 3 wickets remaining Chelmsford needed 29 runs to win off 42 balls, so the lower order pair were tasked with a tough scenario considering Colchester’s ease in getting the top order batsman out. Devenish seemed to be the controller between the two batsmen, taking the majority of the strike and knocking essential singles with the occasional four. Getting 18 runs off 18 balls, between the 35th and 37th over, meant the uphill battle for the two Chelmsford seamers was getting easier as the runs required dropped, but mentally was getting tougher as Colchester piled on the pressure with the ball.

The pair managed to reach the 38th over on 112/7, which meant they needed 11 runs to win off 18 balls. Devenish and Keaney’s partnership looked unbreakable as they both amazingly stuck with the task and kept to knocking around singles with a couple of twos. Even though Chelmsford needed less than a run per ball, Colchester weren’t out of the fight and continued to pile on the pressure with some good tight bowling at the death.

As the game headed towards 7 o’clock Chelmsford’s score reached 117/7 with two overs to go, but only one of the overs was needed as Devenish brilliantly chalked off the majority of the remaining 6 runs with Keaney fantastically supporting him at the other end. Meaning Chelmsford won the match by 3 wickets, taking 20 points and Colchester claiming 4 points.

Devenish should be extremely proud, performing with both bat and ball and in the way he handled himself towards the game scenario to bring home the win in what was a nail-biting and thrilling opening league game between Chelmsford and Colchester.

Highlighted players from scorecard from this innings: Chelmsford Batting:

- Oliver Devenish – 35 runs off 46 balls. (Not out) - James Clifford – 25 runs off 72 balls. - Brad Green – 23 runs off 43 balls.

Colchester Bowling:

- Charlie Fernandes – 2 wickets. 2 maidens. 13 runs conceded. 8 overs. - Vikas Agarwal – 2 wickets. 2 maidens. 22 runs conceded. 8 overs. - Ben Stephens – 2 wickets. 1 maiden. 22 runs conceded. 8 overs. - Dan Thacker – 2 wickets. 25 runs conceded. 7 overs.

Oliver Devenish – Man of the Match.

2nd XI vs Buckhurst Hill 2nd XI (Away) – League.

Buckhurst Hill 125-8 from 30 overs. Chelmsford 129-4 all out from 27.2 overs.

Chelmsford won by 6 wickets.

Saturday morning - pouring with rain.

9.54 PING! - Catchy - "Definitely no play before 1PM - chances are that play not possible at all". I return to the Times Deadly Killer Sudoku ('Numbers' is my aka). 10.31 PING! - Cran - "Update - definitely no play before 2PM" Stuey rocks up - he is very damp. I have completed the Sudoku. 12.23 PING! - Cran, with the clarion call to arms - "Please make your way to the ground". 12.28 PING! - Fergs (the all-knowing, all wise) - "If I know Buckhurst Hill it will have dried out by September".

We splash our way to Roding Lane - it is very damp - the covers have leaked.

The captains agree a 30 over match to start at 2.30.

Cran wins the toss and sticks them in.

Pre-start, the opposition, and the Chelmsford team, replete with black armbands, travelling support and the Cran dog pay due respectful remembrance to Bob with a properly observed minutes silence.

Harry Arnold opens with a maiden from the shallow end. Drainy from the deep end, doesn't.

Drainy's third over to Maru, who hits the ball is to extra cover and calls for a run before changing his mind leaving his hapless partner scrambling back, but failing to beat Cran's smart direct hit. 26-1.

Next over Harry and Fergs, with a juggling catch at slip, combine to remove the oppo star batsman for a duck. 28-2

Buckhurst Hill dig in and the scoring rate slows.

Drainy is withdrawn after 4 overs and Harry completes his 6 overs.

Liddiard and Everard are the change bowlers and are not giving much to hit. Boundaries have dried up. (About the only thing so far).

In Stuey's third over, one that turns bowls the opener Maru (30) round his legs. Rishi replaces Lids and claims 2-13 in three overs (catches by keeper Chev and Dutchy at mid-on) 70-5 with only 8 overs left.

The 6th wicket pair go on the attack adding 28 in 5 overs which Halsey ends by having the number 6 stumped for 20.

The returning Drainy ( 6-1-36-2) takes some stick (comparatively) from the number 7 (Kelsey 39 from 32 balls) but has the the number 8 caught by Fergs at mid-wicket and then bowls Kelsey with a ball to go to leave Buckhurst Hill on 125-8 from their 30 overs.

In the absence of run-machine and skipper Catchy (kidnapped by Sterls), Drainy is the surprising replacement opener striding out with Chev, who unfortunately wanders back scoreless in the fourth over, to be succeeded by last weeks centurion, Harry Arnold.

Meanwhile Drainy has taken a liking to Kelsey hurling the ball down outside off and plunders a succession of boundaries with square cuts and square drives. At the other end, the venerable sexagenarian Mughal (6-4-12-1) opens with 2 maidens and a wicket maiden to Chev and Harry.

In the seventeenth over, Drainy (43 off 51 balls, 5x4 1x6) is bowled. 68-2. 68 needed off 13.

Dutchy and Rishi are not able to hang around 80-4, 9 left 46 required. Game On! Or rather, Game Over! Harry and Cran add 45 in 6 overs, with the on-fire Harry (53* off 67 balls 8x4) reaching his 50 with a boundary, losing the ball in the process.

Cran (27* off 23 1x4 2x6) applies the coup d'etat 2 balls later. In the end a comfortable victory by 6 wickets with 16 balls left and a good start to the league campaign.

Thanks are due to Buckhurst Hill for making every effort to get the game on.

Next week the 2's are at home to Hornchurch.

This 2's match report was written by John Numbers and edited by myself.