Wanstead Win Comfortably to Give Chelmsford First League Loss of Season.

On Saturday, Wanstead & Snaresbrook Cricket Club hosted Chelmsford Cricket Club in the eighth round of league fixtures. Going into the game, the hosts were sitting firmly in third place with the visitors at the top of the table- undefeated. Therefore, it was vital for Wanstead to get a positive result to mount a serious title charge and important for Chelmsford to win to extend their lead at the top and further their unbeaten league record this season.

Chelmsford won the toss and elected to bat first, with start of play at the time of 11am. Dan Hagen and Jack Sterland were the visiting side's trusted opening pair, but unfortunately for them they lost their first wicket at the start of the 5th over when Sterland nicked off to former Essex County player Kishen Velani, in the slips, from the bowling of Eshun Kalley. The inform Chelmsford captain out for 6 runs off 12 balls.

Two overs later, Wanstead and Kalley claimed their second wicket when Ben Waring was adjudged LBW by the umpire for 0 at the end of the 7th over. James Clifford joined Hagen at the crease with their side at 16/2 and it was clear that the pair were instructed to rebuild Chelmsford's innings. But said rebuild was knocked down in the 15th over when J. Clifford edged one into the hands of Tom Simmons at first slip from the bowling of Velani, leaving the crease with 7 runs off 25 balls and Chelmsford at 37/3.

In the over that proceeded J. Clifford's departure, Wanstead kept up the flow and claimed Hagen's wicket after the opener hit one into the grasp of Jahansher Akbar from the bowling of Joe Ellis-Grewal. Hagen out for a decent score (in context of the total Chelmsford were to achieve) of 23 from 47 balls but Chelmsford worryingly at 39/4 after 16 overs.

Robert Catchpole and Ben Clifford were the visiting batsmen at the crease but after just an 11 run-partnership, B. Clifford was caught sharply by Nabeel Aziz from Velani's bowling, for a score of 3 off 15. Brad Green joined Catchpole but walked back to the changing room, only a few minutes after leaving it, as he was out on his second ball, edging one behind to Jonathan Das- again off the bowling of Velani. Chelmsford alarmingly at 48/6 after 21 overs.

Catchpole was joined by Oliver Devenish and the pair survived five overs together until Catchpole was caught behind by Das off the bowling of Velani; the bowler claiming his fourth wicket.

Liam Keaney and Devenish were tasked with a mammoth mission of digging in and pulling the away side out of serious trouble and the pair began very well- surviving for the lunch break. After working very hard for a 30 run partnership spanning across 13 overs, Keaney edged one behind to keeper Das from Kalley's bowling, for a score of 4 off 37. Chelmsford at 97/8 after 41 overs.

Mark Drain joined a focused and determined Devenish but was bowled, in the 45th over, by Kalley's slower ball for just 2 runs off 15 balls. In the 46th over Devenish reached an outstanding half century, considering the struggle for runs from his teammates, with a boundary. But Chelmsford's innings was wrapped up three balls later when Andy Styan was run out by Akbar as he was looking to get Devenish on strike. The visitors set Wanstead & Snaresbrook a score of 117 to win.

With an irrefutable under-par score of 117, Chelmsford needed to put the pressure on Wanstead by claiming early and constant wickets whilst keeping the run-rate low. A lot to ask but after seeing them defend 123 last week at Chelmer Park versus Hadleigh, Chelmsford do not lose without a good attempt at trying win.

Wanstead openers Bilal Patel and Tom Simmons started well but their partnership was broken on the last ball of the 10th over when Simmons was given out LBW from Waring's bowling. Simmons out for 14 runs off 28 balls and the hosts at 22/1.

Das joined Patel and the pair put on a partnership of 23 before Waring claimed his and Chelmsford's second wicket, on the last ball in the last over before the first drinks break. Velani the next batsman in. Resuming refreshed and without any serious pressure, Das and Velani's partnership deemed too strong for the visitors, with the number 3 and number 4 scoring continuous boundaries which included ten 4s and two 6s.

In the 31st over Velani reached a quick half century off just 29 balls and Das wrapped up the game by hitting a four; finishing on a good 26 runs from 57 to give Wanstead the win over Chelmsford.

Wanstead will look to push on with their title charge when they play Colchester away on Saturday 3rd July and Chelmsford will want to bounce back with a good result and performance when they host Brentwood at the weekend.

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