Team: Joe B., Craig S., Joe P. (capt.), Liam H., Harry D., Adam B., David W., Conor S., Max J., Josh J.
Originally a home game for us the fixture was played in away in order to get a game in. And Corringham was a sunny, welcoming sight after so many abandoned games.
Joe P was captain for the day, his second match in that role. The team was quite different to what would have ben our normal B team due to many being away on holiday, at the Olympics or just not being available. As a result we had a 2 District players and 3 A team regulars present.
I did check with the opposition on the day and they also had some A team players. Even so I asked Joe P to give the B team players priority.
We won the toss and decided to bat first. Joe B and Harry opened. Although Joe B lost his wicket early on after 10 overs we were jost over 40 runs to the good for the one wicket down. An acceptable place to be given we could accelerate from there. Craig S batted number three, did well and retired on 25 runs unbeaten.
Around the 15th over Harry said to me (as I was umpiring) that he would be looking to accelerate the scoring, tried to and was bowled going for a big hit. He had played a good innings, scarifying his wicket for the team. Joe P and Adam B both pushed the score along running some good singles.
The final score of 96 was one of those ‘interesting’ ones. Enough to win but not enough to be certain.
After the break whose who had not batted bowled. We started well but P&C matched us losing a wicket early on but scoring as well. After 4 overs there score was 14 for 1. Exactly the same as ours had been.
All our bowlers did a good job with a fair amount of movement making it hard for the opposition to score. Max was the most successful bowler with 3 for 7 but everyone either picked up wickets or ‘just’ bowled well.
P&C slowly but surely fell behind the required rate until they needed 30 from the final 3 overs with only 3 wickets in hand – a difficult ask.
One that in the end they failed to do being bowled out for 79 in the final over. A Rayleigh victory.
This was a pretty good display with many of the B team regulars getting to see the attitude and approach of some A team players. The game was played in good spirit by both sides and my final thanks to Peter Thompson for offering a wicket for us to play on when we couldn’t arrange for one at Rawreth.
Next week Wickford. Weather permitting.