Weekly Round Up: Back to Back Weeks of Murrell Magic!

Despite last weekend’s poor weather, only two Saturday fixtures were lost to the conditions. The 1st XI claimed a strong win over Totham, the 3rd XI delivered a dominant performance against Ingatestone, and the 6th XI returned to winning ways – despite spending an hour on the A12 watching the rain come down! Make sure you read all about it in the full match report below (with thanks to Duncan Bond for another entertaining recount of a memorable, and mildly soggy, 6th XI triumphy!).

In non-league action, the Sunday XI edged past Great Baddow in a rain-reduced 35-over match. The Ladies also took to the field for a softball friendly against Rankins, with a special mention to our U11 girls – Meg, Isabel and Yukta – who stepped up brilliantly. Their performances were a real credit to them and a clear sign that the future of our ladies’ setup is in safe hands.

Next week (w/c 28th July) marks the start of President’s Week – a celebration of everything that makes Rayleigh Cricket Club special (it’s also an opportunity to buy a pint for Mr President, Brad Walker). For those new to the club or who haven’t taken part before, President’s Week is a long-standing tradition featuring a full week of cricket, camaraderie, and community spirit. This year is no exception, with a packed schedule of matches lined up. Here’s what’s in store:

• Monday 28th July: Midweek XI vs. Basildon & Pitsea (13:00)
• Tuesday 29th July: U15s vs. SOSEMT (13:30) and U13s vs. Orsett (17:30)
• Wednesday 30th July: Midweek XI vs. Wickford (13:00)
• Thursday 31st July: Vets XI vs. Billericay (13:30)
• Friday 1st August: Robert Baird T20 Memorial Match (18:30)
• Saturday 2nd August: Saturday games as usual
• Sunday 3rd August: Presidents Day (6 a side tournement)

The teams Monday, Wednesday and Thursday are as per below. The teams for Friday and Sunday will be confirmed by Sunday 27th.

The 1st XI continued their impressive form in division one with a commanding eight-wicket win over Great Totham at Rawreth Lane on Saturday.

Skipper Jason Ox won the toss and elected to field first — a decision that paid off as Rayleigh’s bowlers delivered a disciplined and well-executed performance to dismiss Great Totham for 142 in 38 overs.

Samuel Verrinder was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 for 36 in an excellent spell, while Calum Mayfield (2-14) and Ian Turnbull (2-18) provided strong support. There were also wickets for Mihir Patel (1-29) and Danny Frost (1-16), and a sharp run out from Sam Keene set the tone in the field.

In reply, Rayleigh looked assured with the bat. Opener Sam Keene anchored the chase with a composed and unbeaten 43 off 96 balls, showing maturity and control – taunting the opposition. He shared key partnerships with Ian Turnbull (14) and Steven Lynch (28), before Bala Rajagopal added the finishing touches with a blistering 38 not out from just 22 deliveries, including seven fours and a six.

Rayleigh cruised to 145-2 in 32.1 overs to seal a deserved victory and take 22 league points, further consolidating their position in the top half of the table.

After being asked to bat first, Rayleigh recovered from an early setback to post a competitive 238-8 from their 45 overs. The standout performer was wicketkeeper-batter Henry Murrell, who produced a superb innings of 119 off just 103 balls, striking 14 fours and 5 sixes in a masterclass of controlled aggression. He was well-supported by Andrew Barker, who anchored the innings with a gritty 61 from 111 deliveries in a 179-run partnership for the second wicket.

A late cameo from Matthew Walker, who remained unbeaten on 27 from just 21 balls, gave Rayleigh a strong finish as they posted what looked like a winning total.

In the field, Rayleigh started poorly with the ball. Nick Green turned the match with a superb spell, taking 3 for 12 from his 9 overs — including four maidens — to keep Great Wakering in check. Ben Hoskins also chipped in with 2 for 25, and skipper Richard Nolde grabbed two important middle-order wickets, but went for too many runs, to leave the game in the balance.

Despite those efforts, Great Wakering’s lower order, led by Graham Overall (28*) and some costly extras (47 in total), edged their side over the line in the final over, finishing on 242-8 in 41.5 overs.

It was a tough result for Rayleigh, who picked up 9 valuable points and showed great character in all departments. With strong individual performances and plenty of positives to build on, they’ll look to bounce back next weekend.

Rayleigh 3rd XI delivered another strong team performance on Saturday, securing a convincing win against Ingatestone in a match shortened to 35 overs due to a delayed start.

Skipper Trevor Nunn won the toss and elected to field first. The bowling unit responded well, with Sangeet picking up two crucial wickets and the rest of the attack keeping things tight throughout. Backed by solid fielding, Rayleigh restricted Ingatestone to 174-5 from their allotted overs.

In reply, openers Mike Mayfield and Andy Scogings got Rayleigh off to the perfect start under clear skies, putting on a superb 91-run partnership. Mayfield anchored the innings with a composed 59, while Scogings added a fluent 45. Their efforts laid the foundation for a calm finish, with James Isherwood (27) and Richard Barker (26*) guiding Rayleigh home comfortably, with overs to spare.

With other games called off, this win was even more valuable. Next up is a tough trip to Tillingham.

Rayleigh 5s came back down to earth with a soggy thud after losing to Great Waltham by 56 runs — and it all started with skipper Smith thinking losing the toss was a blessing. “Sticky pitch, tough to bat,” he said. “Perfect to bowl first,” he said. How wrong he was.

Turns out the pitch was a belter. Hard, true, bouncy, and about as sticky as a greased marble. Waltham’s batters tucked in nicely, helped along by Rayleigh’s impression of a juggling act in the field — six dropped catches, to be exact. Offer picked up the early wicket with a run out and Shano put in a proper shift with 8 overs straight. Waltham cruised to 224-5 off 40 overs while Rayleigh wondered what might have been had they taken chances.

In reply, Rayleigh came out full of optimism. The pitch was still flat, the outfield lightning, and the total chaseable. Turner, Hammond, JHJ, and Offer were all back in the shed before teas had time to be digested. The pitch had dried and was now behaving like it had a grudge — one ball bouncing like a tennis ball, the next tunnelling to second slip.

At 66-5, things looked bleak, but Khan showed some fight, smashing a couple into the trees on his way to a rapid 31. Smith chipped in with 38 and Shano top scored with 48 — narrowly avoiding the dreaded jug… or so he thought. Unfortunately, turning up 30 minutes late meant the jug tax still applied. No justice.

Rayleigh were eventually all out for 168, a fair way short of the target and even further from the title top spot — especially with the leaders’ game cancelled, making this a prime chance missed.

Still, onwards and upwards. Plenty of games left to chase glory — and fewer dropped catches might help.

Despite torrential rain for most of the way along the A12 to Kelvedon and murmurs in many a car of “why the f*** are we driving all this way for an abandoned game” (no four letter filth was used in front of any colts, I hasten to add), the 6th team amazingly got back to winning ways with a six wicket win away to Great Baddow 3s.

The toss was all important and thankfully Ray Hart called correctly and invited the home team to bat first. Rayleigh were warming up and suddenly realised we only had 10 players. Where was Old Man Peps? After sending out a few “searchers” OMP was thankfully retrieved from the main Kelvedon pavilion across the road where he was happily watching the British Lions beating Australia in the 1st Test.

After around 40 minutes of rain, the captains agreed to a 35-overs aside match. Rayleigh got off to a strong start and had the home team at 19 for 2. Luke Gould struck the early blows on his way to figures of 6-0-14-2. Two nicks behind. One was taken by keeper Elliot Davies and the other by Duncan Bond at slip, who made up for his howler in the midweek Vets game when he dropped a much easier catch!

Baddow batsmen Ward and Kuldeep Paik, the latter formerly of the parish of Rayleigh (on more than several occasions!), took the score on to 46 before Ward was bowled by a dipping full toss by Flynn Barker, his first wicket in adult league cricket. One brought two for Barker who again clean bowled Norman soon after.

Tom Osbourn then got in on the act with three wickets, including that of Kuldeep for a top score of 30, to finish with figures of 7-2-15-3. Flynn Barker returned figures of 5-0-16-2 and Old Man Peps, now thankfully concentrating on cricket rather than rugby, bowled another very tidy spell of 4-1-10-2 as Rayleigh restricted the home team to a total of 124 for 9 from their 35 overs. Special mention to Elliot Davies who kept exceptionally well on a very difficult pitch, not knowing if the ball was going to stay low or rear up.

Facing an unpredictable pitch and with very accurate opening bowlers, Bond and Arvin Ghataura began the Rayleigh reply. Arvin fell cheaply and after 10 overs (of a 35 over innings), the visitors were only 9 for 1, by which time Captain Hart was getting quite concerned at the slow strike rate.

But Bond and Steve Rothon soon settled their captain’s concerns and saw off the opening bowlers and began to find gaps on a drying outfield. Bond went for 31 from 79 balls before Hart hit a quick fire 23 from 21 balls. Rothon remained at the crease and finished on a jug avoiding 49 not out (46 balls) to let young Shri Balamuragan hit the winning runs to finish on 8 not out and guide Rayleigh to a comfortable victory with five overs to spare.

Not a word about the weather will ever be mentioned again!