Score: Rayleigh (92-4) beat OSS & S (91-5) by 6 wickets
On a breezy, sunny Sunday morning Conor won the toss and elected to field. With Matt and Mihir missing, this game gave Harry Donoghue the chance to make his first appearance for the A team this season. The Jones boys opened the bowling and both put in a good but wicketless spell each. Harry Donoghue then ran out the dangerous opener. Conor and Harry Mole came on as 1st change, and Harry in particular bowled really well taking 2 wickets in the process. Henry and Owen were next, and both did a sterling job with Henry getting amongst the wickets again. In sharing the remaining overs, Harry D and Owen kept the bowling tight leaving Josh to bowl the final over and getting a well deserved wicket. OSS & S had posted a very respectable 91-5 at the close but would this be enough?
Max and Joe opened the batting against some good, quick opening bowling. With some trademark excellent, quick running and good shots, they posted 61 for the 1st wicket off only 11 overs, setting a great platform for the others. Joe was 1st out for 21; clean bowled and 2 balls later a second wicket fell with Craig being adjudged LBW for 2. Skipper Conor came in at No 4 and hit 15 from 12 balls to give further momentum to the innings. However a mix up with Max (20) and an injudicious swipe across the line to a low ball saw both go quickly. Despite a little wobble, Josh and Callum Bishop saw the team home with an over to spare, posting a winning 92-4.
This was another excellent win against a good team. No dropped catches, some consistent bowling, calm batting and excellent running all helped. Eight boys got a bowl. Harry Mole had a season’s best bowling for him and it was good to see Callum coming in at number 5. Well done to all.
Chris Slough