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.
OK, let’s not dwell on it. Not a good day at the office as they say, but credit the Wickford bowlers, they were on the money with virtually every delivery and thoroughly out-bowled what was a good bowling performance by our boys.
But as always, there were some positives to take from the game. Sam Caton top scored with a net two runs on his first full game and bowled well. Adam, too, as mentioned above did well and Harry D once again got a three wicket haul.
Wickford’s coach admitted we were the best bowling side his team had faced all season. To me, that shows how much the lads have improved since nine weeks ago at Orsett. They still enjoyed the game and were smiling, eventually, at the end.
One to forget, and let’s look forward to next week.