Last week saw the return of cricket to Rawreth Lane in cold and damp conditions, more akin with winter than Spring! Three teams were able to get games in over the weekend. Unfortunately, the 4th team scheduled fixture at Belfair’s Park was cancelled without a ball being bowled.
Fixtures & Club Updates
The league season starts on Saturday, with all six teams in action. We also have a number of other fixtures scheduled, including the following:
Please remember you still have time to sign up to our Fantasy Cricket League – make sure you’ve picked your team by midday on Saturday!
Results & Match Reports
1st XI vs. Great Baddow
Match Abandoned – RCC 177/8 (35 overs) and GBCC 121/6 (27 overs)
“Lucky Littler helps set total, but weather wins in the end“
On another cold April afternoon, Rayleigh were able to host some cricket for the first time this year welcoming Great Baddow to Rawreth Lane. With the new ground being saved for league cricket, the 1st team played on the Old Ground – well done to the grounds team for working tirelessly to get a pitch prepared in difficult conditions. The new skipper, as consistent as ever, managed to lose the toss and was asked to bat on the damp surface.
He called on his most experienced batsmen in Littler and Turnbull to take the honours. In tricky conditions Littler rode his luck early on, offering catching practice but the opposition must have been enjoying his company too much and squandered chance after chance. At the other end Turnbull was playing nicely but couldn’t find the gaps, hitting cover with regularity. A change of bowling brough with it a change of luck for the opposition. Taylor was introduced and Turnbull hit straight to midwicket for a smart catch. Lynch came to the crease and tried to smash his first ball to Benfleet, obviously deciding attack was the best option. It worked when two balls later he connected and hit a 6 over midwicket. Littler, observing, decided this perhaps was a better approach as at any point a ball might have your name on it and in the 12th over unleashed with a huge 6 into the pavilion and a couple of 4s to score 14 off the over.
Lynch succumbed to Taylor in identical fashion to Turnbull to bring Rayleigh debutant Bala to the crease. Littler reached 50 in the next over with a 6 into the playground but Bala was sent back to the pavilion soon after, getting his leg in the way of a straight one. Littler’s luck finally ran out when after hitting another 6 he was caught by a good catch at backward point. 65 was a good knock in those conditions and Rayleigh were 100-4 after 18 overs. The solid platform set allowed Harmsworth (24*) and 5th team skipper Smith to see themselves in for an 8 over stretch, building the best partnership of the innings of 38 runs, before Smith was caught on 24. Harmsworth continued to be a rock, permitting S. Verrinder (18) to play a good run a ball innings, until he was run out. Rayleigh posted a very competitive total of 177-8 in 35 overs. Taylor bowled really well for the opposition, finishing 27/3 in his 7 overs.
The skipper decided after a solid spell last week the new cherry should be given to Abley, which when the first ball flew for four looked like an interesting decision! Abley rewarded his captain’s confidence, getting good bounce which led to the opening bat nicking off third ball to get Rayleigh rolling. A marvellous maiden the other end from S. Verrinder set up Abley to strike first ball of his second over, clipping the top of off stump, a sensational sight for any fast bowler. After another miserly over from Verrinder, Abley got his third in as many overs when a push to point was snaffled by Patel. The opening bowlers working beautifully in tandem for the first 6 overs, it was time for Verrinder to finally strike. He got the other opener caught behind, not troubling the scorers, and Great Baddow were reeling at 6-4. Nuttall (58) and Barlow (34) came together at the crease and set about rebuilding a shattered innings. They did so superbly, with Hood coming into the attack and bowling very economically and unlucky not to get a wicket, they set about disrupting Patel at the other end. Having his first bowl after injury there was understandably some rustiness but he settled into a rhythm after his first over. Nuttall was playing the ball nice and straight and getting reward with some nice ground strokes through cover and mid-off. With a light drizzle descending on the ground, the ball started to get wet and became harder for the bowlers to control. The run rate from the 18th over began to increase and it looked like Great Baddow could pull off a remarkable win. Either luck or genius was to strike though. Littler brought into the attack proceeded to lose the ball when a well struck shot ended in the bushes – meaning a nice dry spare was needed. Barlow brought up the hundred partnership with a fine 4, but in the following over Turnbull bowled a straight one to have him trapped in front. Littler then bowled the opposition skipper to open up a chance for a Rayleigh victory but the rain finally fell hard enough for the skippers to agree to stop the match. Figures of 10-3 off 5 overs from Abley at the start was superb and Great Baddow ended up 121-6 from 27 overs.
Another good run out for Rayleigh before the league season, showing character with the bat in testing conditions and exploiting the damp conditions with the ball. Well done to the team for showing resilience when the opposition put on a good partnership. Good luck to Great Baddow for the season and the 1s will start their league season at Ingatestone next week.
Written by Rob ‘Lucky’ Littler
2nd XI vs. Basildon & Pitsea 2s
Lost by 79 Runs – BPCC 152/6 (35 overs) and RCC 73/10 (24.1 overs)
“With the threat of rain, Rayleigh lose quick wickets”
The 2nd team made the short journey to Mopsies Park to play Basildon & Pitsea. Steve Gosling was the stand in skipper for the game, promptly losing the toss and was asked to field first.
Josh Mantle and Bobby Mills opened the bowling but were unable to make a quick breakthrough, despite bowling with good line and length. The introduction of a well-wintered Nick Green led to the first wicket, leaving Basildon 39-1. A run out left Basildon 45-2, but they managed to rebuild for the third wicket. David Archer, on his Rayleigh debut, managed to bowl Jones, followed in short succession by the opposition skipper Gray thanks to a great stumping by young keeper Josh Francis, off the bowling of Sam Keene.
With the score 112-4, Rayleigh had managed to get themselves back into the game. Josh Mantle, returning to the attack, and Richard Nolde, managed to pick up a wicket each. Unfortunately, due to another good Basildon partnership, the score finished on 152/6 from their 35 overs.
With the rain threatening to interfere in proceedings, Rayleigh got underway with Sam Keene and Josh Francis opening the batting. Unfortunately, quick wickets fell – losing three wickets for 12 runs. Rayleigh were able to rebuild, thanks to skipper Steve Gosling sticking about and allowing Sam Keene to get into a groove. As the skipper fell, a Rayleigh collapse ensued, with the team losing six wickets for 30 runs on a deteriorating wicket.
Sam Keene was the standout of the innings, being the only batter to reach double figures – finishing with 43 runs from 76 balls (including four boundaries).
3rd XI vs. Basildon & Pitsea 3s
Lost by 6 Wickets – RCC 98/9 (40 overs) and BPCC 100/4 (23.1 overs)
“Lovely weather for ducks”
The 3rd team hosted Basildon on the back pitch. Geoff Morgan captained the side, and like every other Rayleigh captain on Saturday, lost the toss and the 3s were put in to bat on a rather moist and green wicket.
Mark Bailey and Joe Peppiatt opened the batting, both fresh off productive seasons last year. After a steady start, Bailey (13) was undone by the first change offspinner – pitching one outside off stump and cleaning him up. Andy Scogings joined Peppiatt at the crease by couldn’t add to the total – again bowled by a good spinning delivery – leaving Rayleigh stranded on 22-2.
Tom Peppiatt joined his brother at the crease, in what appeared to be a good opportunity to share some rare time in the middle together and build a partnership. Despite some good bowling, the pair put on 30 runs at a good rate. Unfortunately, Peps (Snr.) was feeling the scoreboard pressure and tried to sneak a single, but Joe remained unmoved – leaving Tom no choice but to continue his run, back to the club house (if the third pitch had one).
With the score 50-3 and the run rate dwindling, someone needed to push on to help build a decent total. A few more wickets tumbled, including the skipper for a golden, but Tom Lloyd had other ideas. Tom batted with confidence, making a well crafted 17, before Joe Peppiatt (31) was stumped trying to get the run rate moving. Prasad (10) got in, but couldn’t push on and another two wickets fell for not many runs. Rayleigh finished on 98-9 from their 40 overs.
Captain Morgan opened the bowling, dusting off the winter cobwebs quickly, utilising the soft pitch to great effect. He was unable to pick up a wicket, but bowled economically, returning figures of 4-1-8-0. Yousuf Khan opened from the other end, and despite some initial rustiness, picked up two wickets from his fours over (4-1-18-2).
Kat Mayfield was the next, and last, Rayleigh bowler to snaffle a wicket with a ball that went straight on. Prasad (4-0-12-0) and Lloyd (4-0-17-0) bowled well and were unlucky to not pick up wickets. Unfortunately, the Basildon batters started seeing the ball well (in the rain) and were able to push on to chase down the total with ease.
Despite the heavy loss, the game was a great opportunity for players to get a run out before the start of the league season and was played in the right spirit.