Hadleigh 127 for 3 off 20 Overs
Rayleigh 129 for 6 off 18 Overs
Rayleigh won by 4 wickets
Team: Christian H (Capt), Gideon H, George B, Nathan H, Lloyd S, Sam L, Tom G, Matt J, Adam K, Steven L and Josh J.
The last league game of the season and a genuine chance to beat a Hadleigh side missing it’s two leading batsmen. Christian lost the toss and we were asked to field. The seam bowling was generally sound, if a little wide of the stumps, on what was a good pitch and fast outfield. But it was the two slow bowlers George (4–1–20–1) and Christian (4–0–15–1) who excelled.
A final total of 127 was probably only about par for the conditions so we approached the run chase in optimistic mood.
Once again, Christian (38*) and George (38*) got Rayleigh off to a flyer with Nathan (24) joining in the fun until he needlessly ran himself out and sparked a near disastrous collapse. We went from the dizzy heights of 103–0 after 13 overs to 125–6 inside the next 4 overs and only the calm head of Tom with a classical cover drive off the last ball of the 18th over saw us across the line.
A great result against a team unbeaten in 2 years and one that should see us finish 3rd of five teams in our division. Let us hope we can kick-on from here next season and aim to finish top!
Next up is Stock (A) on Friday 30th July and Rankins (A) on Thursday 12th August — just two of a series of friendlies throughout the remainder of the Summer.