1st XI Claim a Rain-Hit Finale but Fall a Point Short of Promotion

As the rain ruined every other Rayleigh teams day, the 1st XI waited out the weather and took to the field in a 30-over reduced game, starting at 14:30. Winning the toss and bowling first on a wet and uncovered wicket, Southend started quickly and posted 55 before the first wicket fell thanks to a superb penultimate ball of Sam Verrinder’s spell – finishing with figures of 6-1-25-1. It only took another over before Mihir Patel removed Sriramajegan (2) and Imran (0) in successive balls, before Siva Ranjan followed up with three quick wickets to leave the home side on 77-6. Sibbons (49) was finally removed by Danny Frost, before a late 36 run partnership between Shah (30) and Enderby (6) helped propel SOSEMT to 131-7, despite a very close run out chance in the last over. Crucially, a wicket short of the four bowling points needed to tee up a chase that could have resulted in promotion.

Rayleigh set about the chase well, with a 40 run opening partnership between Ellis (23) and Keene (22), before Sam departed, followed shortly by captain Matt Verrinder to catches behind. Wickets continued to fall, despite partnerships between Nolde and Harmsworth (15), Littler and Verrinder (13) and Littler and Turnbull (14). With the score 102-8, Rob Littler fell after putting on a watchful 16 runs. Turnbull and Frost put on a much needed 20 runs, before the latter was bowled through the gate – leaving Patel & Turnbull to finish off the match, needing 10 runs to secure victory. Thanks to a number of wides and singles, the scores were tied in the 27th over. Rather anticlimactically, another wide from Imran pushed Rayleigh over the line – winning by one wicket.

Photo Credits: Alan Brown