Rayleigh CC report – week ending 23July17
The weather spoiled the weekend for the Saturday League sides and interrupted several matches. Only one, three defeats and two matches abandoned and the weekend concluded with an enjoyable friendly match against an Alan Brown XI.
T Rippon Mid Essex Premier Division. The 1st XI hosted Bentley 1st XI who batted first scoring 244-8 with only Ian Bryant causing the visitors any problems taking 4-24. In reply Rayleigh started with a 51 run partnership between Will Nolde (25) and Adam Vyse (33) but then subsided to 156 all out. The only sunshine on a rain interrupted day was that the last two wickets added 52 with Luke Sullivan (36) and Sean du Plessis (20) scoring a few boundaries each.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 2. The 2nd XI visited Bentley 2nd XI and scored 43-5 before rain stopped any further play and the game was abandoned.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 5. Great Wakering were the visitors to the 3rd XI. Rayleighbatted first and found it impossible to recover from a disastrous start of 0-4 and were bowled out for only 41. The visitors easily passed this score for the loss of only 1 wicket.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 7. The 4th XI travelled to St Andrews batting first scored 82-8 when the rain came down. The only highlight of the innings was from John Wright who scored 43. No further play was possible and the game was abandoned.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 8. The 5th XI entertained Navestock 2nd XI, and having been asked to bat scored 190-5. This score was based on good knocks from Simon Harwood (33), Matt Verrinder (53) and Aby Jose (62*). The highlight of the 5th XI bowling was 2-20 from Andy James’ 9 overs. This was well supported by tight bowling from the other bowlers which restricted the visitors to 150-5 and to give Rayleigh victory by 40 runs.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 10. The 6th XI travelled to Broomfield 2nd XI who batted first and scored 210-3 in their 40 overs. The Rayleigh reply started badly and at 32-5 it looked like an early finish. However, Jack Himpfen-Jones scored a superb 83* and helped the 6th XI to a respectable total of 148-6.
On Monday the Midweek XI ended a successful competition and won the Southend Evening Cricket League Cup with victory over Southend at Rankins.
On Sunday a Rayleigh Sunday XI took on an Alan Brown XI in a friendly match to celebrate his birthday. The AB XI scored 201 in their 40 overs and this was eventually overtaken in the 36th over to give Rayleigh a win by 4 wkts. Despite a rain break it provided a great end to a weather interrupted weekend.