It was a weekend of mixed fortunes for Rayleigh CC, as the club’s depth ultimately ensured a balanced return of three wins and three defeats. While the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd XIs encountered stiff resistance and frustratingly tight losses – including a narrow three-wicket defeat for the 1s and a high-scoring shootout for the 2s against Chelmsford Super Kings – the lower teams stepped up to deliver a string of dominant performances. The standout result of the weekend undoubtedly belonged to the 4th XI, who amassed an imposing 311 on their way to a crushing 146-run victory over Ilford Catholic, leading the charge alongside highly comfortable wins for both the 5th and 6th XIs.
This Week’s Fixtures & Results
It’s already been a busy week at the Club, with games for our youth teams, Vets XI and Evening League action.
Well done to the U13s who won against Westcliff-on-Sea on Sunday, and followed that up with another win the following day against Old Southendians. The U15s also put on a show, beating Hadleigh & Thundersley in a tight contest on Wednesday, while the Evening League XI couldn’t muster a win against local rivals Rayleigh Fairview. Finally, the Veteran’s took on Eastwood on Thursday and managed to secure a tie in a low scoring game.
Player of the Week
There were some exceptional performances from the across the Club last week, but Phil Hammond picks up the K9ology Player of the Week award.
Phil helped steer to the 4th XI to a dominate score of 311 against Ilford Catholic’s on Saturday, hitting a composed 73 from 83 balls – which included 9 boundaries. His contribution helped the 4s to another victory in division ten.
Week Four LEague Summary
The Club managed to secure another excellent round of results in the league, with three wins. You can view the full scorecards, along with a summary of our top performers, below.
Highest Scores
Best Bowling
Match Reports
Close Contest at Catholic Sees Rayleigh Conquered for First Time this Season
Ilford Catholic 1st XI vs. Rayleigh 1st XI | Lost by 3 Wickets | Mid Essex League Division One
A closely contested encounter at Ilford Catholic saw the hosts chase down Rayleigh’s total of 185. Despite a strong all-round effort from Rayleigh, a key partnership in the second innings ultimately proved decisive.
Having won the toss and opted to bat on what looked a very suspect surface, Rayleigh struggled to build early momentum, losing both openers cheaply, leaving Rayleigh at 13–2. A period of consolidation followed, with Lynch (22) and Cook (25) steadying the innings. Cook, in particular, once again showed fluency, striking five boundaries at a healthy tempo but went for one shot too many and was caught in the deep. Regular wickets prevented Rayleigh from establishing a dominant position. However, middle-order contributions from M Verrinder (18) and Harmsworth (13) kept the innings ticking over, reaching 126-6. Turnbull (14) look to impose himself on the opposition and get the score up to something competitive but was cruelly run out by his batting partner. It was Siva (42 off 45 balls) who provided the key impetus. His innings, featuring four boundaries and a six, lifted Rayleigh towards a manageable total and combined with 36 extras, pushed Rayleigh to 185. Something to defend on a pitch still doing wonders for the bowlers. If it hadn’t been for a cluster of wickets at the end, potentially a bigger score was up for grabs. Pick of the bowlers was Tanveer (3–30).
Ilford’s reply got off to a shaky start, as Rayleigh’s bowlers struck early with a new ball alive to the task of getting wickets. The hosts slipped to 36–4, with S Verrinder (2–24) and Turnbull (1-34) applying early pressure. The introduction of Siva (2-65) and Patel (1-25) also worked to removed key batsmen and so when the hosts dropped to 67-6, after Ryan Hart secured his first 1st XI wicket, it looked like a famous victory was on the cards for Rayleigh. However, the game turned through a superb partnership between Zaman (68*) and Patel (47). Both where controlled and patient and never looked like giving their wicket away. The run rate did climb thanks to great control from the bowlers and some flawless fielding, but some superb striking towards the end of the innings meant Ilford clawed themselves out of the hole they had dug. Zaman and Patel’s stand of 93 took Ilford from a precarious position to within sight of victory, but with perhaps a final twist, Rayleigh did manage to break the partnership at 160–7 to ensure some late drama. Unfortunately, a late flourish from Subhani (20*) ensured there would be no dramatic finish to the game and no fourth league victory in a row for Rayleigh, sealing the win inside 44 overs. Rayleigh’s bowlers performed well early but with the old ball and pitch settling were unable to make further in roads in the middle overs, not for the want of trying.
In Conclusion, Rayleigh will reflect on missed opportunities after having Ilford under early pressure, but the home side’s resilience and composure in the middle overs proved the difference. One strong partnership ultimately guided Ilford Catholic to the win. Again another very good team performance with contributions throughout the team and think this shows how a pitch can be a leveller.  Player of the Match was not awarded this week, however this reporter feels special mention should go to Siva Ranjan for his 42 at the end of the innings setting up a defensible total and taking 2 wickets with the ball when it was a struggle after such batting antics in the highest temperatures of the day.
By Robert “Achilles” Littler
4th XI Make it Four in a Row
Ilford Catholic 4th XI vs. Rayleigh 4th XI | Won by 146 Runs | Mid Essex League Division Ten
Rayleigh made the long journey to Ilford Catholic after a trio of wins, hoping to make it 4 from 4. The skipper arrived, studied the wicket and decided to call heads. Did he finally get a call right? Yes he did, and he chose to bat.
Terry and Phil made an excellent start, putting on 164 for the opening partnership in 25 overs. Hammond anchored the innings superbly with 73 from 83 balls, while Terry added a classy 63 from 95 to put Rayleigh firmly in control. With the platform set, the message from the skipper was simple: go big or go home. In came Ben James with a quickfire 23 before Jake Deacon once again lit up the innings, smashing 61* to help Rayleigh finish on a huge 311/6, with useful contributions throughout the order.
Offer then took the new ball and wasted no time making an impact. First ball… middle stump gone. Second ball… exactly the same outcome. Ilford Catholic suddenly found themselves 0-2. Offer continued the damage with two more wickets, while Riley Hughes chipped in with another to leave the hosts reeling at 39-5. Tobias then bowled with perfect line and length, while Chloe Martin kept things tight at the other end as the opposition crawled to 130-7 at drinks. Chloe deserved wickets for her spell, repeatedly tempting the batters into aerial shots. Unfortunately for her, the skipper at midwicket decided to audition for the circus instead. First, a one-handed effort went down. Two balls later, another chance burst through his hands and smashed into his thumb. The glare from Chloe said it all… catching practice may well be required this week!
To be fair to the skipper, he redeemed himself by taking the final two wickets to secure a commanding 146-run victory. Best bowling figures went to Offer with an outstanding 8-1-30-4. Rayleigh now sit 4 wins from 4 and head into a huge top-of-the-league clash next week against Great Totham – a defining game this early in the season.
Brad ‘Baz Ball’ Walker & Young Bowling Attack Seal 3rd Win in a Row
Rayleigh 5th XI vs. Great Waltham 3rd XI | Won by 72 Runs | Mid Essex League Division Eleven
The 5th XI made it three wins in a row to move into second place in Division 11 with a comfortable 72 run win over Great Waltham 3s at Rawreth Lane.
Openers Brad Walker and Mark Bailey got the 5s off to a good start as they put on 73 for the first wicket. Bailey was the first to go for 27, but Brad, turning back the clock, played an elegant innings in the sweltering heat, scoring 65 from 77 balls. The Great Waltham bowlers kept the total down to 179, which looked like being a gettable score on a dry track.
But Rayleigh’s bowlers, for the second week running, were too good for the opposition. Banter king, Ollie Milchard, complete with blistering sunburn on his leg, bowled at a good pace and was rewarded late on when he clean bowled Gavin Reed. Young Henry Barker bowled tight lines once again, and finished with 8-2-16-2. Josh Rockenbach took 1 for 21 from his eight overs and Duncan Bond got his first league wickets of the season with 2 for 19. But the pick of the bowlers this week was Luke Gould who returned figures of 8-0-18-2 with consistent line and length.
As for wicket keeper Baz Bailey, with the unpredictable bounce, he was heard saying “I hate keeping at home.” However, some 15 overs later he had taken two catches and a stumping and was grinning like a Cheshire cat!!
