Dominant Display Catapults Chelmsford to the Top of the Premier Division!

1st XI vs Belhus (Home) – League.

Chelmsford 192/9 from 45 overs.

Belhus 93 all out from 32.3 overs.

Chelmsford win by 99 runs.

On Saturday 5th June Chelmsford Cricket Club’s first team hosted Belhus first XI in scorching sunshine and glorious warm weather; perfect for cricket. Determined to continue with their winning streak in the league, Chelmsford won the toss and elected to bat first in the 45 over-per side game.

Chelmsford captain, Jack Sterland, looked to continue his superb form but had his hopes stopped after he was given out LBW in the 3rd over, from the bowling of Belhus’ Osbourne. Prowting joined opener Hagen at the crease and the pair put on an impressive partnership of 46 after losing their captain early doors.

However Osbourne would strike again, Hagen out with a tidy score of 30, after his shot reached the hands of a Belhus fielder. Chelmsford were 52/2 after 11 overs.

In the over after the one which saw Hagen depart, new batsman to the crease James Clifford was caught from the bowling of Dreher, after only facing 2 balls.

Prowting soon followed J. Clifford a few overs later when he was bowled by Belhus’ Nanayakkara, with a score of 17 runs off 45 balls and Chelmsford at 55/4 off 15 overs. B. Clifford and A. Beard were the two batsmen now and they both played some fine shots to put on a much needed 35 run partnership before Beard was bowled by Nanayakkara, with a very nice score of 29 off 26 but Chelmsford at a worrying 96/5, but still with plenty overs left.

In the 23rd over, B. Clifford’s time at the crease was finished when he was out LBW off Nanayakkara. A new combination of Green and J. Cook was formed and a much respected 25 run partnership from the two placed Chelmsford at 126/6 before J. Cook was given out LBW off Barwick. Devenish joined Green but soon departed for just 4 runs. Chelmsford at 145/8 off 37 overs.

Green was bowled by J. Joyce for a very good 35 off 40 in the 39th over. L. Keaney and Waring put on an excellent 42 not-out last wicket partnership to end Chelmsford’s innings on 192/9.

Belhus with a required run rate of 4.2 per over to win the game lost their first wicket when Shihan was caught off L. Keaney’s bowling. After 4 overs, Belhus were 24/1. The visitors steadied the ship and a decent stand surviving 6 overs was broken when J. Joyce was caught out off the bowling of Beard. 36/2 off 11 overs.

Chelmsford claimed their next wicket when D. Joyce was caught off the bowling of Devenish, Belhus at 54/3 in the 16th over.

It was time for spin for Chelmsford and J. Clifford bowled Osbourne out for 7 runs off balls, placing the away side at 69/4 off 22 overs.

Barwick was next to leave the crease for 6 off 24, after he was stumped by Green off the bowling of Chelmsford’s other spinner, Waring.

25 overs gone had Belhus at 75/5.

Soon after Barwick’s departure, J. Clifford claimed another wicket, bowling Winter out for just 1 run off 8 balls. In the next over, Chowdhury was caught by Beard off the bowling of Waring for 19 off 27. Belhus alarmingly at 90/7 off 29 overs.

In the 32nd over J. Clifford bowled another batsman out, this time Dreher and Waring wrapped up the game in the 33rd over with two wickets in three balls, giving Chelmsford the win and placing them at the top of the Essex League Premier Division!