Weekly Round Up: Cricket’s Back!

Rayleigh travelled to a welcoming Belhus for their opening friendly fixture of the season. After a cordial discussion with the opposition, the 1st XI skipper, noting the varied mix of talent among the visitors, agreed there was no need for a toss—Rayleigh would bowl first. With the toss settled, he gathered his troops for the opening exchanges of the new campaign.

Abley and S. Verrinder were handed the new ball and began steadily, with the Belhus openers adopting a watchful and measured approach, as is often the case early in the season. Abley struck first, tempting the batsman with a short ball that he couldn’t resist, resulting in a top edge to Keane at square leg.

Buoyed by the breakthrough, Abley continued with the short stuff, although the remaining opener seemed more comfortable against it. Calls of “pitch it up” from the slip cordon were duly noted, and a remarkable slower ball—one that dipped and spun, according to the umpire—earned Abley his second wicket.

The openers were eventually replaced, but without success, as Blake (114) and Khan (49) settled in and began to build a strong partnership. Then came the inspirational change: fifth team captain Smith, who had been quietly stationed at third man, caught the skipper’s eye and was thrown the ball. He made an immediate impact, bowling Khan with a beauty before quickly adding a second wicket. Claiming he wanted to give others a chance—and not because a burly 16-year-old had just walked to the crease—Smith ended his spell.

Blake and Sinfield (66), sensing 210 wouldn’t be enough, went on the rampage in the final eight overs. Offer finally claimed the wicket his earlier spell had deserved, catching Blake off his own bowling, before Keane had Sinfield caught in the deep by Turnbull. A run out off the final ball accounted for another, and Belhus closed on 270 for 7. Abley and Smith were the pick of the bowlers, returning 2-21 and 2-46 respectively….

Rayleigh welcomed Belhus to Rawreth Lane, with Dave Archer captaining his first game for the club. Due to the Easter bank holiday and limited availability, Rayleigh fielded a weakened side, and the toss was uncontested—Belhus elected to bat first.

The visitors began steadily, with the brother-and-sister opening pair picking off runs from some errant pre-season bowling. Afra Mohamed (16) was the first to fall in the 12th over, under-edging through to the keeper off the bowling of Cameron Mantle. Aftab Mohamed followed shortly after for 39, bowled through the gate by a well-disguised slower ball from Tom Godfrey.

Unfortunately for Rayleigh, the Belhus batters soon found their rhythm, putting on nearly a hundred for the next wicket. The breakthrough came in the 27th over when Adam Dudmish edged behind off Ryan Hart. With Ware (51*), Read (50*), and Blake (50*) all retiring not out, Belhus continued to pile on the runs. Aaron Mayfield claimed a deserved late wicket, but the damage had been done, and Belhus closed on 242-4 from their 40 overs.

The wickets were shared among the bowlers, all of whom put in a solid effort, with Tom Godfrey (5-0-24-1) standing out…