Chingford Work Hard for a Draw Against In-Form Chelmsford

On Saturday 12th June, Chingford Cricket Club hosted Chelmsford Cricket Club in a 1st team game which, for the first time this season, started at 11am. The visitors won the toss and captain Jack Sterland elected to bat first.

Having already hit 779 runs so far this season, Sterland looked to continue his amazing form with the bat, and he did just that. Chelmsford got off to a great start and Sterland and fellow opener Dan Hagen reached a 50-run partnership in the 8th over, which placed Chelmsford at a very healthy score of 57/0 off 8 overs.

Hagen and Sterland looked strong and it wasn't long before Sterland reached his half century. In the 19th over, he reached 50 runs from 69 balls. Chelmsford's openers clearly turned up to Chingford with confidence and in good form as the pair reached the 100 partnership in the 21st over, with the away side at a score of 102 without loss. Hagen's half century soon followed Sterland's.

However, Chingford got their long awaited first wicket in the 29th over when George Duke bowled Hagen out for 51 off 74 balls. Chelmsford at 122/1. Nick Prowting replaced Hagen at the crease.

With Sterland comfortably set in the game and not looking like he was going anywhere soon the opener reached his century, his third one so far this season, in the 39th over. The Chelmsford captain's 100 came off 129 balls. Chelmsford at a very good 180/1.

Sterland and Prowting lasted a near twenty over partnership when Sterland was given out LBW from the bowling of Ben MacGregor, for a score of 126 off 155. A brilliant knock! James Clifford joined Prowting at the crease with the score at 212/2 but their partnership wouldn't last long as four overs later Clifford (like his captain) was given out LBW to the bowling of B. MacGregor, in the 50th over.

Aaron Beard now joined Prowting but he only lasted 9 balls when he was caught by Peter McDermott off the bowling of B. MacGregor again. Chelmsford at 239/4. Ben Clifford was next in for Chelmsford and looked to help Prowting push on for his half century, of which he achieved in the 57th over - 50 runs off 74 balls.

In the next over Prowting and B. Clifford reached their 50 partnership, after nine boundaries in five overs (including a maximum from Clifford), which was well appreciated from their teammates. But in the ball after the celebrations, Chingford claimed their 5th wicket when B. Clifford was caught out by A. MacGregor from the bowling of B. MacGregor. Chelmsford at a very decent score of 289/5.

Prowting departed the field in the 61st over for 60 off 89 balls and with Chelmsford at 305/6.

Brad Green and Jack Cook got Chelmsford up to 320 before three wickets in the last over, including two back-to-back from B. MacGregor, saw Chelmsford finish on a very good score of 325/6 off 64 overs.

Chingford's innings started horrifically when they lost opener B. MacGregor in the first over, caught by J. Clifford off Beard's bowling. 2/1 from the first over.

Gupta joined Chingford star man and Essex League Cricketer Podcast Host Alfie Taylor (great podcast, check it out) and the pair looked to steady the panic from the first over. However, seven overs later Chelmsford claimed their second wicket when Taylor edged off the bowling of Keaney straight into the hands of Sterland. Taylor departed with a score of 22 off 18 and Chingford were at 34/2.

Gupta soon followed and edged one behind to keeper Green off Beard's bowling, which meant that Chingford were alarmingly 43/3 off 11 overs.

A. MacGregor joined up with Maskell and the pair were fantastic in stopping the flow of wickets as they survived 16 overs and put on a 47 run partnership. But A. MacGregor (26 off 51) was caught off J. Clifford from the bowling of brother B. Clifford. Chingford 90/4 off 28 overs.

Maskell was the next to depart for a well needed 42 off 78 after he was caught at short leg by J. Cook off the bowling of J. Clifford. Chingford at 114/5 off 33 overs.

Houldsworth and McDermott were the two now at the crease but in the 39th over, Houldsworth was caught and bowled by J. Clifford, leaving Chingford at 122/6.

Chingford's game plan was to now try and survive, block out and get the draw. Which McDermott and Lannen combined to do fantastically, as the pair survived thirteen and a half overs and putting on a crucial 55 run partnership before Lannen was bowled by Beard for 20 off 49.

Ben Waring got the last wicket of the game (but not Chingford's) in the 59th over when he got Alexander Shortt out LBW. McDermott remained not out with a vital score of 54 from 100 balls, with the hosts finishing on 203/8, and survived to see Chingford claim a well earned draw against Chelmsford in what was a tough day in the dirt for the visitors and a gritty performance from the hosts.