Category: 2010 u11

Under 11s win the South Essex District Final

South Essex District Cricket Board Final v Orsett (held at Pegasus & Corringham)

Orsett 294–10 (Net 244)
Rayleigh 277–4 (Net 257)
Rayleigh won by 13 runs

Team: Conor S (Capt), Matt D, Max J, Josh J, Alex B, Owen B, Henry H, Alex D, Callum B & Mihir P

And so to the final game of what has already been a tremendous season. With just a hint of autumn in the air, Rayleigh and Orsett gathered at the neutral, picturesque venue of Pegasus to contest the final of the SEDCB u11 cup. Both teams had finished runners-up in their respective groups and the stage was set for one last push by both teams. Skipper Conor called correctly and inserted the opposition.
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Kwik Cricket Semi-Final v Leigh on Sea

Leigh 250–4 (Net 230)

Rayleigh 269–1 (Net 264)
Rayleigh won by 34 runs

Team: Conor (captain), Alex B, Craig, Harry, Adam, Alex D. Henry and Callum

Last years winners Leigh could only muster 6 bodies for the semi final and so Rayleigh agreed to lend them 2 fielders to make a game of it. Rayleigh had to dig even further into their player reserves as District commitments deprived them of the twins. Callum and the returning Henry boosted the ranks. Skipper Conor won the toss for the second day running and again inserted the opposition.

Harry opened the bowling and though he sent down a couple of rare wides his golden arm yet again took a wicket with a beautiful yorker. Henry came on first change and kept the score down with only 7 coming from his over. Alex Belcher took the third over and it became the pivotal one with only 5 runs coming from it and another 2 wickets. Alex D ensured the momentum was maintained with another frugal over going for just 8 runs and Adam came back brilliantly after going for a big six with the first ball of his over to restrict Leigh to just 5 more from then on in. Skipper Conor finished the innings off with another good over for just 6 runs, containing a run out into the bargain off the last ball. So Leigh finished on 250-4 net 230. Would that be enough?

Henry and Craig were a new opening partnership and they got the team off to a great start with 22 off the first 2 overs. For the second day running Craig spent most of the 2 overs watching the batsman at the other end score heavily. Henry hit 2 sixes in his 17* and Craig was undefeated on 1*. Callum and Alex ‘the run machine’ Belcher came in second pair and added 31 for the next 2 overs. Alex top scored again – this time with 22* and Callum also found the boundary in his innings of 6, though he was unfortunately caught trying to push the score along. With no mistakes required, Conor and Alex D batted watchfully to see the innings out with another 16, leaving Rayleigh on 269-1 (net 264) and winners by 34 runs.

Thanks go to the increased numbers of parents that came along to support the boys and the stalwarts that are Alex James, Ben James and Mike Law. Special thanks to Matt for scoring in the absence of Nathan.

So a great performance for the second day running. It was great to have Henry back, and to see Callum step up so well. Adam and Alex D belied their years with another mature performance and I am running out of superlatives for Alex B. Well done to all the boys. SOSEMT stand in the way on Sunday at 13.00.

Kwik Cricket Quarter Final v Old Southendians & Southchurch

OS&S 229–2 (Net 219)

Rayleigh 276–1 (Net 271)
Rayleigh won by 52 runs

Team: Conor (captain), Alex B, Max, Josh, Craig, Harry, Adam and Alex D

Conor won the toss and elected to bowl. In this rapid format of the game (6 overs a side), Rayleigh wanted to know what they would be chasing – especially on a green wicket (well it was the outfield!!). Missing 4 regular first teamers, the question would be….could the replacements step up to the plate? The answer was an emphatic yes.

Max opened with a very good first over and the tone was set. Harry came next and probably bowled the best over of the match – full of well pitched up deliveries, yet strangely taking a wicket (caught Max) with the worst ball. Alex, then Adam, bowled equally well without any luck but keeping the runs down. OS&S were taking chances and in Josh’s over this caused them to try and pinch a quick single which resulted in a run out. Conor bowled out the innings and suffered a perfectly executed Dilshan, which rather ruined the figures. However, keeping them down to just 219 net with such short boundaries (10-15 yards in places) was a magnificent effort.

In reply, Max and Josh opened up with a mixture of boundaries and singles – so well did they do that they already had overhauled the opposition’s total score at the end of their 2 overs. What followed was one of the finest innings ever seen in this format as Alex B scored a brilliant 49 not out – yes you didn’t misread it 49 not out! Poor old Craig stood and watched for most of the 2 overs but also contributed himself and didn’t lose his wicket – as he has done all season. Conor and Alex D finished the innings off, marred only by a close run out, but the damage had been well and truly done.

Thanks to Nathan for keeping the boys focussed and the stats up to date. Thanks to the mums and dads for their support and to club members Alex and Ben James, the Verrinders x 3 and the ‘Law’ man. Although this was a superb team effort, and contained the brilliance of Alex B, special mention goes to the 2 under 9s – Adam and Alex D – who played so well and didn’t look out of place at all.

Benfleet u11B v Rayleigh u11B

Benfleet: 279 for 8, net 239

Rayleigh: 273 for 6, net 243

Rayleigh won by 4 runs

Team: Joe Peppiatt, Jordan Jacobs, James Buckley, Alex Dawkins, Harry Donoghue, Adam Fitzgerald, Adam Bailey, Sam Caton, Callum Bond, Liam Harrold

How ironic that after losing the first game of the season on the last ball of the match, we won the last game of the season in exactly the same way, thanks to some sensible and dramatic batting at the end from Harry and Alex.

Benfleet won the toss and elected to bat first. Rayleigh bowled well throughout and collected 8 Benfleet wickets. That gave us a season tally of 67 wickets which meant we finished as the leading wicket takers in the ‘B’ division, a tremendous achievement.

The highlight of this performance though, had to be the fielding. A catch each from Sam, Harry and Alex added to three run-outs, two direct hits, one from Alex at fine leg and one from Adam B, in only his second game, at backward point (with only one stump to aim at) set up this win.

As Rayleigh went into bat we had a net target of 240 to win. In truth we made it hard for ourselves with the loss of early wickets and not defending the straight ball.

However the lads down the order rallied, and when last pair Harry and Alex came to the crease we were nine behind on net score with four overs left. Sensible batting nudged the net score ahead, before Alex unluckily defended a straight ball only to watch in horror as it trickled back onto the stump and dislodged a single bail.

Benfleet were now one run ahead with the last over to come. Harry took strike and couldn’t get the ball away. On the second from last ball, Alex galloped like a gazelle to run a bye and level the net scores. Then, on the final delivery young Mr D guided the ball to the square leg boundary for four and Rayleigh had won the game in the most dramatic fashion.

The win, and a surprise loss by Wickford away to Leigh, means that Rayleigh finish in second place in the league having won seven and lost three games. Our total of 24 points was just two behind eventual champions SOSEMT. Good luck to SOSEMT, but a truly fantastic achievement by the Rayleigh u11B team to finish second, considering it was the first season of hard ball cricket for many of these lads.

I am very proud of them and I hope they are proud of themselves.

Everyone played a part in our achievement and added to the team names at the top of this report I’d also like to thank the rest of the squad for their efforts: Callum B, Jamie C, Harry M, Cameron M, Craig S, David W, Jess W.

Rayleigh u11B v Wickford u11B 4/7/2010

Wickford: 277 for 7, net 242

Rayleigh: 244 for 11, net 189

Wickford won by 53 runs

Rayleigh team: Joe Peppiatt (capt), David Wood, Liam Harrold, Adam Bailey, Sam Caton, Jamie Coleman, Callum Bond, Cameron MacDonald, Alex Dawkins, Harry Donoghue.

Despite winning the toss (only the second time this season), it was not Rayleigh’s day.

It began well, as Joe put Wickford into bat and a controlled bowling and fielding performance kept the visitors down to a net and normally getable 242. Harry D was again the pick of the bowlers with 3-1-4-3 and Joe bagged two wickets as well. Encouraging signs were also shown from Sam and Adam on their debuts.

….And then we went into bat.

 

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Leigh U11B vs Rayleigh U11B 27/6/2010

Rayleigh: 306 for 6, net 276
Leigh: 272 for 7, net 237
Rayleigh won by 39 runs

Team: Callum Bishop, Callum Bond, James Buckley, Alex Dawkins, Harry Donoghue, Adam Fitzgerald, Liam Harrold, Cameron MacDonald, Joe Peppiatt, Jess Walker

As sure as England were going to lose to Germany later that afternoon, it was a cast iron guarantee that Callum would lose the toss. He did not disappoint.

So Rayleigh were asked to bat first and posted a decent score of 306 for 6, courtesy of Callum Bishop (10), Alex (9) a net 7 from Adam and a fine top score of 11 from Liam.

With a net score of 276 on the board we had a decent total to defend, which was made easier by getting two wickets in the first four overs, all of which were maidens, bowled by Cameron and James. Another five wickets fell in the middle order, but credit to Leigh, their last batsmen fought back and although they were always behind the run rate, they came out of the defeat with great credit.

Pick of the Rayleigh bowlers has to be Liam, with figures of 3-1-9-2, his best performance of the year with both bat and ball.

Also of note was a slick fielding display including Harry D’s direct hit run-out, the usual catch from Alex and a catch on his first full game behind the stumps for Callum Bond.

In what was stifling heat, the boys kept their concentration in the field superbly and, once again, thoroughly deserved the win.

SOSEMT U11B v Rayleigh U11B 20/6/2010

Rayleigh: 285 for 6, net 255
SOSEMT: 306 for 8, net 266
SOSEMT won by 11 runs

Rayleigh team: Joe Peppiatt (capt), Callum Bond, Jamie Coleman, Alex Dawkins, Harry Donoghue, Liam Harrold, Harry May, Cameron MacDonald, Jess Walker, David Wood.

Joe captaining the side for the first team this season, kept up the B team tradition and lost the toss. So we were put into bat. Playing a captain’s innings Joe rose to the occasion by hitting what must be a career best 13 runs including two super fours to get the innings off to a flying start in this top of the table clash.

It was not until the 11th over that Rayleigh lost their first wicket. The middle order batted steadily, but could not keep up the run rate of the opening two batsmen. Alex and Jess, batting at the end, upped the run rate again but were also undone by a fine caught & bowled and a run out to reduce our net score to a competitive 255.

SOSEMT batted well but Rayleigh didn’t quite have the control in our bowling that we have had in recent weeks. That said we still got eight wickets with Alex, Harry D and Jess each claiming two.

However the performance was a creditable one today. SOSEMT achieved the win only in the very last over. We didn’t have our strongest side out, but the boys who played gave it their best shot and it was just one of those days where you have to hold your hands up and acknowledge that we were beaten by the better side on the day. Only just, mind you, only just!

SEDCB East League Match v Hadleigh (H)

Rayleigh 304–1 (Net 299)

Hadleigh 232–5 (Net 207)
Rayleigh won by 92 runs

Team: Conor S (Capt), Matt D, Max J, Josh J, Alex B, James B, Owen B, & Mihir P

Hadleigh could only muster 8 players so it was a slightly truncated affair on a cool Sunday morning at Rawreth. Hadleigh won the toss and elected to bat.

Max and Matt opened the bowling in a really great opening spell that yielded just 1 run of the bat between them, and only 5 in total. Max picked up a wicket in his first over as well. Any thoughts that Hadleigh had about significantly increasing the scoring rate in the middle overs were quickly dispelled as both Owen and Henry only conceded 4 runs each in their 4 overs, with Owen picking up a maiden. In a slight change to the usual order, normal death bowlers Josh and Conor came on next, and both came off with the identical figures of 2 overs, 1 maiden, 1 for 1. It was left to Mihir and Alex to finish proceedings off. Mihir took a wicket thanks to a catch by Henry, and Alex took another clean bowled. Only 8 runs came off the last 4 overs which was a splendid effort. Though Hadleigh’s batting had been somewhat circumspect throughout, it was still a great effort to restrict them to 232-5 (net 207).

And so to the batting. Max and Conor put on 25 undefeated for the first 4 overs, scoring 8* and 11* respectively. Owen and Henry came in next, each scoring 6* with a boundary as they added another 18 runs undefeated. This effectively killed off the match but, with the pressure off, Mihir and Josh stayed focused as they rattled up a partnership of 28. Both players scored 10 but unfortunately, Mihir got out to his last ball, which gave Hadleigh what was to be their only wicket of the match. Matt and Alex came in and scored 33 off the final 4 overs, again undefeated and this included a superlative six from Matt (first one of the season) on his way to 26*. Rayleigh closed on a massive 304-1 (net 299) considering this was only 8 a side, and nearly went through the innings without losing a wicket. This meant a convincing victory by 92 runs.

Thanks to Paul for umpiring, Matt for scoring and Lisa for the teas.

Rayleigh U11B v Orsett U11B 13/6/2010

Rayleigh: 276 for 3, net 261 (Craig Smith 13, Liam Harrold 6)
Orsett: 255 for 11, net 200 (Harry D 2-2-0-3, Joe Peppiatt 2-0-11-3)
Rayleigh won by 61 runs

Team: Callum Bishop, Adam Fitzgerald, Alex Dawkins, Callum Bond, Cameron MacDonald, Craig Smith, Harry Donoghue, Joe Peppiatt, Jordan Jacobs, Liam Harrold

Callum lost the toss (again!) and we were put in to bat. Rayleigh proceeded with caution at first but good knocks from Liam H and Joe P kept the score ticking over before Craig S & Alex D contributed a last pair partnership of 21 to lift us comfortably passed the net 250 mark which gave us a decent total to defend, if recent performances were anything to go by.

A fine bowling display by all 10 players saw us cruise home in the end, as we restricted Orsett to a net total of their starting 200. Harry D for the second game running grabbed three wickets and there was also a three-for for Joe P (his best of the year). Jordan, Alex and both Callum’s also grabbed a wicket-a-piece and a run out completed a haul of 11 Orsett wickets to fall.

This was a big game for Rayleigh today as we gained revenge for our opening day defeat. Looking at both teams, Orsett’s fielding had improved from the first day, but Rayleigh’s whole game has come on in leaps and bounds and that is a credit to how well and quickly the players have improved.

Next up SOSEMT. A top of the table match. A tough game awaits, but we have nothing to fear. Be confident boys and play the cricket you’ve played for the last five games.