Epping v BENFLEET CRICKET CLUB Benfleet 3rd XI on Sat 03 Sep 2005 at 13:00
BENFLEET CRICKET CLUB Won 67 runs
Epping v Benfleet IIIs
3rd September 2005
Benfleet : 238 all out.
J.Wright 83 not out.
Epping : 171 all out Benfleet won by 67 runs Benfleet 20 points, Epping 6 points.
B.Carter 5 for 46
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Epping in 4th place were still in with a chance of promotion, while we were 6th and looking to get back up the table where we should be in this league. On a hot steamy afternoon at Coopersale, Epping won the toss and put us in to bat. The pitch certainly offered some help to the bowlers who started off with some early success. M.Jackson, back in the 3s, latched on to the first ball he faced, only to watch in dismay as it was held by cover, lowish, and to his left. At this level, these chances are often dropped – unfortunately for him, not today.
M.Ware, D.Ware and A.White had arrived direct from a wedding reception and it must be said, looked like it ! Dan was clearly not quite himself and was bowled for a duck. Andy hung on a bit longer but then got caught in two minds and pushed to mid on, where the Epping skipper took the catch.
Not a great start then !
J.Webster (Taz) was holding it together at one end and we desperately needed a partnership. D.Povey was then unfortunate to see a hardish cut caught at gulley and Benny Ware completed the ‘Pitsea boys’ misery with the bat, caught at mid-on.
Things were not looking good, and with the score at 65 for 5 there was talk of catching the England game on the telly. J.Wright came out, and it has to be said, the vice-skipper has not been in the best form this season. This pitch was proving to offer plenty of help now and with most of the batting gone our first batting points looked a long way off.
Taz and Jonners watchfully played their way back and the hundred beckoned. Taz was the next to go, on a valuable 44, just as the bowling changes were about to be called. B.Carter added some stickability for a while and 11 runs as Jonners started to assert. M.Willis joined him and the 150 came up – a good recovery under the circumstances. The skipper never looked comfortable though, despite receiving a pie which got pulled for six to mid wicket, and was bowled by a ‘shooter’ for 14. With J.Heath and P.Frensham to come Jonners got stuck in, his 50 being reached he then accelerated. ‘The Messiah’ proved worth the pick at number 10 ahead of Frenchy, and added a valuable 14 as Jonners raced on.
The 200 beckoned against all the odds as did Jonners century, despite the wickets situation.
Jacko was now instigating revenge for a 12 year old ‘declaration when I was on 99 !’, and as Jon got nearer Jacko’s grin widened. Unfortunately we never got the chance…. Heathy skied one and Frenchy has his timber rearranged to leave Jon stranded on 83 not out (great knock) and us on a healthy 238 !!!!.
Epping looked a bit deflated and, their reply was equally eventful.
Heathy, was moving it, both off the track and in the air. In the first over a wicket fell with an opener being squared up, turned round, and completely beaten. More was to follow. The No 3 bent at the knees, to avoid one going down leg side, only to see it cut back and bowl him round his legs. Another fell with a top edge to midwicket – expertly taken by A.White.
If Epping needed the reminder, this was not going to be an easy run chase.
Benny Ware chipped in with a nice one, quicker ball, beating the bat and smashing off stump. Bill Carter joined in at the other end, getting a couple, including another top edge to mid wicket, again A.White taking it.
Epping looked demoralised, and the wickets kept tumbling.
With the match slipping away, Epping attempted a rally, and with 20 overs to go, needed around 120 to win, but with
only 3 wickets remaining, it was a long shot on a pitch this lively.
A couple more wickets, (another catch for A.White), and it then became a straight race, with Heathy and Carter both on 4 apiece. It was Bill Carter who delivered the hammer blow, a full, late swinging Yorker to win the match.
In summary, a gritty recovery from Taz and Jonners, followed by some good bowling from Carter and Heathy (all rounder ?), topped by A.White’s 3 catches – it was Benfleets day.
Next week : Last league game – Home to Old Parks
Lets finish with a win fellas !
M.Willis
5/9/05
BENFLEET CRICKET CLUB Benfleet 3rd XI Batting
238 for 10
Epping Bowling
Epping Batting
171 for 10
BENFLEET CRICKET CLUB Benfleet 3rd XI Bowling