Day three of cricket week saw us welcome Wickford Cricket Club to Rawreth Lane. Tom Peppiatt skippered a young Rayleigh team – with an average age across the team of only 19!
Wickford won the toss and elected to bat first on a hot and humid afternoon, much to the delight of the Rayleigh team.
Wickford Innings
Zach Skillett and Tom Godfrey opened the bowling, with the latter picking up an important wicket in the 4th over.
The introduction of Freddy Noble resulted in the dismissal of the remaining opening batter, who looked comfortable at the crease but was undone by a wide full toss.
Wickets eluded Rayleigh for a period until Ryan Hart made a breakthrough in the 16th over, removing Adam Deller (31) with the scoreboard reading 95-3.
The skipper decided it was safe to bowl some tweakers, but was subsequently hit all around the ground, conceding nearly nine runs an over in his three-over spell (some might say two overs too many). After the skipper wisely removed himself from the attack, the introduction of Sam Keene paid off immediately as he removed Moore (11) with the first ball of his spell.
Frankie McKenna reached his first adult century for Wickford in the 30th over, playing a mature and patient innings. Frankie brought up his century from only 86 balls in just under two hours, including 16 fours. He was eventually undone by a spinning delivery from Sam Keene and departed for a well-made 103. Keene picked up another wicket two overs later, finishing his spell with figures of 6-2-23-3.
Tom Godfrey and Zach Skillett returned to the attack, with Skillett managing to pick up three wickets late in the innings, finishing with figures of 4-0-28-3. Wickford posted a total of 238-9 from 40 overs.
Rayleigh Run Chase
Rayleigh started well, with James Balkwill and Sam Keene putting on a 106-run partnership for the first wicket. Balkwill was eventually dismissed, nicking off to the wicketkeeper for a well-made 41 from 65 balls.
Shane McDonagh helped to rotate the strike and keep the scoreboard moving, but he was eventually dismissed in the 30th over, giving the cover fielder some catching practice. Shane departed for a well-made 16 from 28 balls.
Attacking batsman James Offer joined Keene at the crease and immediately went after the Wickford bowling, smashing six boundaries from his 18 balls and substantially increasing the run rate. Unfortunately, he was bowled through the gate after making a valuable contribution. The prized wicket of Sam Harmsworth (3) followed only two balls later, as he attempted to hit the bowler over his head.
Wickets continued to fall: Ryan Hart (1) tried to beat the fielder at mid-off and was caught, and then Zach Skillett (3) was bowled an over later while trying to loft a ball to the boundary. The skipper followed in similar fashion, attempting to drive a full ball to the boundary but only finding mid-on.
It was up to Tom Godfrey and Sam Keene to steer the Rayleigh ship to victory, and they certainly gave it a good attempt. Keene brought up his maiden century in all forms of the game with a lovely cut through backward point. Sam’s century came from only 102 balls, batting for well over two hours.
Once his hundred was safely secured, Keene went on the attack, plundering two fours. Tom Godfrey followed with a quick three to get Sam back on strike for the last over of the match.
Frankie McKenna was handed the ball, setting up a showdown between the two centurions. Keene dispatched the first ball for six over cow corner, followed by a well-run three.
A few more balls passed, and Tom Godfrey was run out trying to get back for a second run. Mantle joined Keene at the non-striker’s end with 6 runs needed to win and only two balls remaining. Keene managed to scamper through and pick up two runs off the penultimate ball, leaving Rayleigh needing four to win and three to tie.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be for Rayleigh. The last ball of the innings was drilled to the man on the leg-side boundary, who calmly collected it and returned it to the keeper, running out Sam Keene for 125. Wickford won on the last ball by two runs.
Watch full highlights of the game below:
It was a fantastic day’s cricket, played on a glorious summer’s day. Thank you to Wickford for participating in the club’s Presidents Week and making it an enjoyable day for all involved.
