Leigh 250–4 (Net 230)
Rayleigh 269–1 (Net 264)
Rayleigh won by 34 runs
Team: Conor (captain), Alex B, Craig, Harry, Adam, Alex D. Henry and Callum
Last years winners Leigh could only muster 6 bodies for the semi final and so Rayleigh agreed to lend them 2 fielders to make a game of it. Rayleigh had to dig even further into their player reserves as District commitments deprived them of the twins. Callum and the returning Henry boosted the ranks. Skipper Conor won the toss for the second day running and again inserted the opposition.
Harry opened the bowling and though he sent down a couple of rare wides his golden arm yet again took a wicket with a beautiful yorker. Henry came on first change and kept the score down with only 7 coming from his over. Alex Belcher took the third over and it became the pivotal one with only 5 runs coming from it and another 2 wickets. Alex D ensured the momentum was maintained with another frugal over going for just 8 runs and Adam came back brilliantly after going for a big six with the first ball of his over to restrict Leigh to just 5 more from then on in. Skipper Conor finished the innings off with another good over for just 6 runs, containing a run out into the bargain off the last ball. So Leigh finished on 250-4 net 230. Would that be enough?
Henry and Craig were a new opening partnership and they got the team off to a great start with 22 off the first 2 overs. For the second day running Craig spent most of the 2 overs watching the batsman at the other end score heavily. Henry hit 2 sixes in his 17* and Craig was undefeated on 1*. Callum and Alex \’the run machine\’ Belcher came in second pair and added 31 for the next 2 overs. Alex top scored again – this time with 22* and Callum also found the boundary in his innings of 6, though he was unfortunately caught trying to push the score along. With no mistakes required, Conor and Alex D batted watchfully to see the innings out with another 16, leaving Rayleigh on 269-1 (net 264) and winners by 34 runs.
Thanks go to the increased numbers of parents that came along to support the boys and the stalwarts that are Alex James, Ben James and Mike Law. Special thanks to Matt for scoring in the absence of Nathan.
So a great performance for the second day running. It was great to have Henry back, and to see Callum step up so well. Adam and Alex D belied their years with another mature performance and I am running out of superlatives for Alex B. Well done to all the boys. SOSEMT stand in the way on Sunday at 13.00.