Weekly Round Up (w/e 27th Aug)

In spite of the weather forecast, only two games were abandoned on Saturday, while the 1st and 6th teams successfully clinched victories. As a result of the 1st teams win, they have now guaranteed a spot in division one for next year.

The 2nd XI now face Eastwood on Saturday, who are equal on points in division three. Victory would almost certainly keep them safe from relegation. A win for the 3rd XI on Saturday could, if other results align, lead to the 3s securing a promotion place – this is very unlikely however.

During the week, the Evening League XI played in the Plate Semi-Final and Final, winning the former but unfortunately coming up second in the latter. Well done to Matt Walker for leading the team this year and giving players from all walks of the club a game.

The club will be holding a BBQ on Saturday 2nd September after all games have finished to celebrate the end of the league season.

The bar will be open till late and all members are encouraged to attend if possible. Come down to Rawreth Lane on Saturday and have a drink (or six) with members as we finish out the league season.

See below for a range of snaps from the midweek fixtures on Wednesday and Friday last week. Thank you again to Alan Brown from these photos.

Rayleigh entertained Terling this week, hoping for a better performance then when the two sides met earlier in the season. Rayleigh won the toss and elected to field first. Terling from the start attacked the bowling as they did previously but this time Turnbull and Frost, after some pleading from the skipper, were in the attack. Frost made the breakthrough in his first over and then got a second next ball. He had to wait an over for the hat-trick ball but unfortunately missed out.  Great start for the home team. Turnbull tightened the screw at the other end but it took the introduction of Calum Mayfield to get the next wicket. A shocking first over but a wicket nonetheless. Leading wicket taker Ox was brought on and also got a wicket in his first over, surprising the batsmen with one good delivery out of 8! He proceeded to take 2 more and Terling were 94 for 6 at drinks.  The skipper brought himself on and got the seventh wicket.

Humphries (48) and Wager (51no) set about rebuilding the innings and batted sensibly to put on 54 for the eighth wicket. Ox was brought back into the attack and got the breakthrough when Ashworth took a smart catch. The same pairing were involved again next ball and Terling were nine down with Ox incredibly completing the 5 wicket haul and on a hat trick which unfortunately again went begging. The final wicket proved problematic thanks to a dropped (dolly) catch from the skipper leading to a dislocated finger but a run out finally finished the innings. Terling posted 211 all out, with Rayleigh using only 5 bowlers for the first time this season. Ox stood out with his 5-57, but Turnbull was economical going for only 25 in his 9 and all others contributed for a solid performance.

After selecting a side with plenty of batting, the skipper was quietly confident that it would be a successful run chase.  He was even confident enough that he wouldn’t need to put his finger in jeopardy putting himself 9th in the batting line-up. Rayleigh got off to a fast start with Francis (19) fancying his chances and starving Lynch (29) of the strike.  Unfortunately, he fell but the score was 27-1 off 3 overs. Ox (29) joined the fray and put on a 50 partnership for the 2nd wicket, but he succumbed and when Impey got one that popped and Lynch fell the game was in the balance with Rayleigh at 107-4. Harmsworth, who has been a rock in the number 5 position this year and Frost soon put those worries to the back of the mind though. Frost scored at a healthy rate and Harmy played the anchor role perfectly to put on 74 for the 5th wicket, Harmsworth falling for 24. Terling started to slow the over rate considerably, looking over the horizon at the apocalyptic looking clouds in the distance as a sign the rain may save them. Reports from the 2s and 3s games being abandoned must have leaked to the field as Terling dragged their heels until the rain did fall and then sprinted like Usain Bolt for the changing rooms. After a 15 minute delay, and a lot of persuasive chat to get the opposition out back on the field, one man reportedly having a shower, the game restarted. Frost brought up his 50, but was bowled by a good ball from Humphries finishing on 55. Rayleigh still needed 18 runs to win with 4 wickets remaining. The skipper decided he needed to step up and promoted himself to 8 in the order. The opposition skipper sensing a wounded warrior, bowled it short which Littler carted away to the fence. Next ball was just short of a length and punched through cover for 4 more. 10 now needed. Ashworth got a good delivery so Rayleigh were 7 down in the next over but needing 5 after it. Littler made sure Turnbull wouldn’t have to face too many deliveries keeping the strike with a well run 3 at the end of the next over and then played a superb cover drive for 4, marked as 2 in the book due to the umpire not signalling the boundary, to win the game by 3 wickets.

Rayleigh now sit 4th and avoid any relegation drama next week, playing division champions OCs next week. View the scorecard from the match below:

The 2nd team made the long journey to Theydon Bois for their division three clash. Theydon won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Rayleigh made a good start but lost James Ellis (11) early. Despite the setback, Sam Keene (41) and Richard Nolde (14) put on another thirty runs before Nolde was bowled through the gate. Jess Walker was the next to wicket to fall, which meant Henry Murrell took to the crease. Henry hit a lovely 63 from 85 balls (including 7 fours and 1 six), supported by some cameos further down the order – helping Rayleigh reach 204-7 from their 45 overs.

With likely not enough runs on the board, Rayleigh were looking for quick wickets to keep Theydon pegged down. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your outlook) the rain set in and the game was abandoned without a ball being bowl in the 2nd innings.

The 3rd XI made the long journey into the bowels of East London to face Ilford Catholic. The opposition won the toss and put Rayleigh into bat on a green wicket.

Only 16 overs were faced before the rain set in, but James Balkwill (34) and Josh Francis (14*) put on 57-1. With no prospect of the game resuming, after puddles formed on the square, Rayleigh made the long journey back to Rawreth Lane, in time to watch the 4th XI chase down 284…

The 4s welcomed Ilford Catholic to Rawreth Lane. Captain Peps lost the toss (five time in a row) and the opposition decided to bat first on a hard track.

Rayleigh started well, with openers Law and Morgan getting the ball to move off the surface. The former, however, pulled up mid over and the skipper had to finish off his over. The next bowler was also removed from the attack after several no-balls, with the skipper again having to finish the over. It wasn’t until Aaron Mayfield picked up the ball that any form of control came back to Rayleigh’s bowling.

Ilford put on 239 for the first wicket, with openers Thiru (129) and Penkar (90) batting well and taking advantage of the Rayleigh bowling. The first breakthrough came in the form of the skippers third spell (4.5-0-34-1) via a catch at point, easily collected by Mark Bailey. James Offer was the next to make a difference, taking two wickets in a good come-back spell (7-0-49-2), supported by Geoff Morgan (8-0-54-1) who took the last wicket of the innings. Ilford finished on 284-5 from their 40 overs.

In response, Mark Bailey and Mark Callaway made a good start – keeping up with the run rate well. Unfortunately, Bailey (19) was dismissed with the score 36-1, followed the ball after by James Offer for a golden. Mark Callaway continued to chip away at the bowling attack and after reaching 50 he went into full T20 mode.

Unfortunately, Mark was done by a good ball and finished his innings on 66. Sangeet Prasad added 31, and Geoff Morgan added a spirited 13 but it was all too late as Rayleigh slumped to 175 all out – Tom Peppiatt the last man standing on 9*.

Basildon & Pitsea won the toss and elected to bat, and got off to a strong start against some mediocre Rayleigh bowling. By the drinks interval, they had reached 137 for 2 from 20 overs. This was mainly thanks to a good knock of 66 by A. Kale.

Rayleigh gave the ball to Andy Scogings for his first league bowling spell of the season. The Basildon & Pitsea run rate was checked and wickets began to fall. Scogings returned impressive figures of 7-2-18-6, and he was backed up behind the stumps by some good glove work by wicket keeper Alan Brown.

Rayleigh began their reply steadily with 39 without loss after 10 overs. Dave Turner and Duncan Baldwin proceeded to an opening stand of 93 for the first wicket before Dave Turner was caught behind for 35.

With ten overs to go, Rayleigh had reached 149 for 2 and from there on in Duncan Baldwin carried his bat, to steer Rayleigh home with some majestic strokes in a well paced innings of 76 not out.