Weekend cricket review: Orsett triumph in derby

Orsett skipper Read lost the toss and was asked to bat by Horndon skipper Plom on a wicket that looked in condusive to high scoring.

Shaw returned to the top of the order in the absence of Douglas to resume the opening partnership with Siriwardhane but both were soon back in the pavilion, Siriwardhane (1) dragging a wide Foley ball onto his stumps while Shaw (5) was trapped lbw by a Mendes delivery that didn't get above ankle height.

Read (32) steadied the ship along with Sargent (13) but when both fell followed by Landman (0) first ball and the in form Khan (4) Orsett were once again in deep trouble at 60 for six.

17 year old Alex Karkoski was joined by young debutant Lewis Smith and set about turning the innings around.

Both youngsters batted sensibly and ran well between the wickets, showing their senior peers how it should be done. Smith eventually went for 15, lbw to Foley and Karkoski went shortly after for 35, this time bowled by the impressive Foley (4-49).

When Millard was lbw first ball Orsett were teetering at 121 for nine, still four short of their first batting points.

Captain Read had wheeled out veteran old timer Darron Polyblank for this crucial derby and the ageing icon showed all the experience his 39 years had gleaned.

Together with Jim Ewing he steered Orsett to 164 before a flash of the old youthful exuberance returned and a big shot resulted in Polyblank being bowled for 15, Ewing was left unbeaten on 22.

Orsett's 164 looked a competitive score on an awkward wicket against a side that had been struggling for runs in recent weeks.

After the tea interval Joyce and Stitson made a mockery of the early struggles the Orsett batting had suffered. Joyce in particular was quick onto anything loose and Horndon had moved serenely onto 55 before Landman produced a beauty to remove old Orsett nemesis Stitson for 10.

Joyce fell shortly after for an impressive 33 caught behind by Sargent off the bowling of the ever reliable Khan. They were joined back in the pavilion shortly after by Ridley (5), P Gammon (0) and L Gammon (8) and the game had turned around, suddenly Horndon were struggling on 80 for five with the 165 target for victory suddenly seeming a long way away.

Horndon's very own blonde bombshell Jason Plom threatened to explode with a pair of massive sixes but he went for one big shot too many and was bowled by Ewing (2-9) for 19, Foley fell next for 0, brilliantly caught in the gully by Read who now had a glint in his eye with the scent of victory in the air.

With the unfortunate Ryan Plom being taken ill Orsett only required nine wickets and when Mendes (12) skied the ball to the onrushing Siriwardhane the game was almost up. Kahn (5-21) then got through Warren's (0) defences and the 20 points would be heading back to Orsett - via the bright lights of Bas Vegas.

Afterwards captain Read commented "that was job well done, we knew if we could get 140 plus on that wicket it would be a competitive score, once again the old adage quitter newer wins' has carried us through.

Second placed Orsett host Ilford and ex-England ace Chris Lewis at School Lane Saturday looking to extend their unbeaten run to seven.

Stanford 1sts 100 ao
Billericay 1sts 101-2
HAVING been put into bat by Billericay, Stanford made a real hash of things on a decent track.

Wicket after wicket tumbled to some steady rather than spectacular bowling, particularly from opener Hynes (5-21). Stanford opening bat Peter Gray (36), watched with disbelief as batsman after batsmen contrived to give their wickets away, before he too succumbed.

The Billericay reply demonstrated that there were no demons in the wicket.

A couple of early successes for Kevin Smith (2-49) were ignored by Rutland (45no) and Southgate (33no) as they negotiated a comfortable path to an eight wicket success.

Stanford 2nds 196
Billericay 2nds 198-7
A GREAT game at the Rec, saw visitors Billericay clinch a nerve-wracking win with a single ball to spare.

Stanford had been asked to bat, and were indebted to young Luke Dennis (86) who played a beautifully controlled knock. He shared good partnerships with Andrew Robinson (14) and Dean Hitchcock (22) as Stanford progressed towards a decent total.

A mad dash for the 200 mark and extra bonus points meant there was a crash of wickets towards the end as opener Yates (4-38) returned.

The Bills reply was slow to start as Stanford nabbed three quick wickets.

However, Harford (55) and Rutland (23) repaired the damage, before Sam Spooner (3-64) caused consternation in the visitors ranks as he picked up another three.

Yates also excelled with the bat making an unbeaten 50.

He found an able partner in Mayhook (18no) as they swung the game back in Billericay's favour, before clinching the win as the tension mounted.

Upminster 4ths 212-3
Stanford 3rds 139
UPMINSTER backed themselves to make a big score on a benign Coopers Coburn wicket, which they duly did.

Opener Rob Murphy took advantage of a few lucky breaks to score an undefeated ton.

He got good support from Brooks (57) and Tuffee (31), whilst the Stanford bowlers struggled to make any impression. U's skipper Will Sissons gambled on an early declaration as soon as Murphy reached his century, reasoning that he would need plenty of time to winkle the opposition out on a good batting track.

Just as well he did, because Stanford, despite the early loss of Jon Fuller, looked to be threatening at one stage.

Skipper Geoff Lake (39) and U16 Harry Cook (30) looked comfortable as they added 68 for the second wicket. With the middle order all chipping in, Stanford looked comfortable at 129 for four.

However, it all went disastrously wrong from there as the inexperienced lower-order crashed for just 10 runs, to the tight bowling of D'Cruz (5-15) and Roome (3-40) as Upminster clinched a 73 run win.

Orsett 4ths 240-9
Stanford 4ths 83-9
IT might have been a miscalculation to bat on past the 200 mark for the visiting Orsett skipper, as the young Stanford tail somehow clung on for a draw.

Orsett had posted 240 from 50 overs, thanks to Paumi (68), Boreham (47) and Pavitt (27). Stanford struggled manfully in the field and John Youngman (3-51), skipper Colin Knight (2-59) and U13 Charlie Gleisinger ((2-12) all bowled well.

Stanford had to bat for an hour plus 20 overs and immediately lost a couple of quick wickets.

There was a mini revival as Arthur Ramdial (19) and Robin Monji (14) battled away, but a rush of wickets saw Stanford facing the best part of the last 20 overs with only two wickets in hand.

Somehow, youngsters Sam Sewell (20), Ryan Smith (3no) and James Hogger (2no) managed to defy most of what Orsett could throw at them to clinch an unlikely draw.

Horndon on the Hill 3rds 145-9
Wanstead 4ths 134
BEING invited to bat first proved to be disastrous for Horndon as early wickets tumbled to a combination of indifferent strokes and a mercurial batting surface.

At 22 for four the situation looked grim but a patient partnership of 69 between opener Ben Greenwood, who grafted hard for 50, and Peter Clark with 23 steadied the ship.

In pursuit of batting points Dave Towler (16) struck a flurry of boundaries and Alan Davis chipped in with a useful 11 runs to close the innings at 145.

Defending a low score, a fine opening spell by Ian Clark saw the top four Wanstead batters removed cheaply before the middle order dug in.

Wanstead gradually reduced the target without further mishap and defeat for Horndon looked on the cards until a change of ends by Richard Jasper brought dividends with the dismissal of the fifth wicket.

Odds still favoured the home side, however, needing to score at less than three per over until the re-introduction of opener Clark who swung the match in Horndon's favour with two quick wickets, giving him career best figures of 6 for 35 from 11 as well as a sharp run out.

It then remained for the immaculate Richard Jasper to knock over the last wicket to return figures of three for 21 from 11.3 to secure a thoroughly deserved victory.

Belhus Saturday 2nds 202-8
Grays & Chadwell 99 all out
GRAYS won the toss in this Division Two encounter and asked Belhus to bat.

Good contributions from Chris Didd with 36, Chris Baker with 59 and John Forrest with 38 saw Belhus post the highest score at South Ockendon Rec passing 200.

In reply Grays only managed 99, due to some great bowling and fielding once again. Al Maidment one for 26, Chris Didd two for 25, Dale Kenyon three for 12, Ian Wright two for five and "the cat" Brian Edwards two for three (and a sublime catch at gully) sharing the wickets. A fourth win on the spin,and clear second place in the league for Belhus.

Orsett 2nds 217-4
Leigh-On-Sea 150
ORSETT took on Leigh-On-Sea and the School Lane ground on Sunday and batted first with Lewis Lockyer getting Orsett off to a quick start making 32 and the Brad Walker came in at number four and played an innings of real maturity making 73 in a fourth wicket partnership of over 100 with captain Lee Kooyman 45 not out.

Leaving Orsett to finish on 217-4 from their 40 overs and in a commanding position.

George Pavitt bowled eight overs for 15 runs in a tidy spell but wickets for Brad Walker two for 23 completing a fine all round game, Hadley Nicholls two for 23 and the off spin of under 13 George Gibbon four for 28 meant Leigh- On-Sea were all bowled out for 150.

Pegasus & Corringham 1sts 165
Bentley 1sts 152
PEGASUS & Corringham arrived at second placed Bentley in the knowledge that a win could leapfrog them from third to first.

Having won the toss and chosen to bat on a decent looking wicket, the Pegasus strategy was simple - to put a score on the board and apply pressure in the field after tea.

A strategy that was eventually to win them the match - but only after another amazing game that ebbed and flowed with both teams having long periods of domination.

Bentley's strength is in their bowling; although lacking pace, it does not lack discipline and Wilson (1-28) and Coleman ensured that the Pegasus' start was one of caution. With 15 overs left they had only moved on to 89 for one, Bennett registering 50 once more and is proving to be a class act in this league.

Hymas (30) also contributed to the second wicket partnership of 80 but once they both departed the Pegs innings started to derail.

A late cameo by skipper Jenkins (26) enabled the score to reach 165 - a score which many thought was a little shy of where it should be.

Hammond's left arm spin for Bentley returning a fantastic 8-46.

Bentley's reply started with more caution than their opponents with Patmore following up last weeks 12 overs for 11 runs, with even more remarkable figures of 12-10-6-1 and at 18 for two off 10 overs, it was obvious that another close game was going to be contested.

After 25 overs, four wickets down and now behind the run rate, it was make or break for Bentley and consecutive overs went for 15, 17 & 19 doubling the score from 50 to 100 in just three overs!

The game had swung dramatically away from Pegs.

But, once Barker (30) and Flood (24) had been dismissed, the game was back up for grabs. Man-of-the-match Bennett's off-spin took four for 43.

It was Pegs that grasped the nettle once more and the final wicket was taken from a direct-hit Laird run-out in the penultimate over sparking jubilant scenes as Pegs had successfully defended another low total. They now sit top of the league after seven games and play home to Little Baddow next week.

Pegasus & Corringham 2nds 216-6
High Easter 1sts 139-9
PEGASUS and Corringham 2nds emulated the first team by moving to the top of their respective division with this comfortable 77 run victory over High Easter.

Batting first, Keith Hawkes (28) and Roger Maxted laid the foundations with a solid 70 run opening partnership. Jason Pike continued the good early work with a commanding 54 while Maxted had to retire hurt on 51 having top edged an attempted sweep onto his nose.

The middle order slightly lost their way in the attempt to up the run rate and eventually had to settle for a satisfactory final total of 216.

P & C's opening bowling attack of Gavin Sharpe and Nadar are proving to be the most effective in the division.

This week it was the turn of Sharpe to rip through the High Easter top order as he removed the first four batsmen with a great display of swing bowling. Mark Daines came on first change to claim three wickets and then Gavin Sharpe returned for his second spell to claim his fifth wicket and eventually finish with the great figures of 5 for 11 from 12 overs.

Pegasus and Corringham could not quite claim that final wicket to obtain maximum bonus points as High Easter limped to 139 for 9.

High Roding U13 47 all out
Belhus U13 51
THIS was a truly outstanding achievement from a Belhus team in their latest Essex group tie of the MCC Spirit of Cricket National Club Championship match at North Stifford on Friday evening.

Having previously defeated Southend on Sea, Stanford-le- Hope and now High Roding, Belhus look certain to be playing Wanstead in the next round thanks to another fine team display.

The visitors were never allowed to settle despite the first class pitch at North Stifford.

Six Belhus bowlers, all of them demonstrating their potential, were amongst the wickets.

They were Tom Wood, two for 12 (one maiden), Harry Levy two for 14, Tony Ellis, back from an enforced absence with one wicket for just seven runs, Daniel Dreher two for six, all from three over spells, while Owen Jefferies took one for two from a solitary over and Callum Thomas wrapped up the High Roding innings by claiming two wickets for just one run from five deliveries.

The top scorer for the visitors was Benji Richardson with 12.

After a short break, Tom Wood reached 30 before being compulsorily retired under competition rules, his innings included six boundaries. The other Belhus batsmen were Levy eight not out and Jefferies four not out.

Felsted School U14 148 for seven dec
Essex Association of Boys Clubs U14 61 for six
THANKS to the hard work of the Felsted groundstaff this match was able to proceed.

On the inevitable slow, damp surface, Felsted, having been asked to bat first, were reduced to 46 for the loss of three wickets, claimed by Mark Pavitt, Jack Brunton (both members of Orsett Cricket Club) and Tom Wood (Belhus).

The fourth wicket fell with a good caught and bowled from Richard Hall (Hannakins Farm FC) however George batted superbly for the host school with 43 before being caught by Michael Bolter (Upminster Cricket Club) off the bowling of George Gibbon (Orsett Cricket Club).

Wood picked up his second wicket and a run out produced the seventh wicket before a rearguard action by Lewis with 50 not out resulted in Felsted setting the Essex Association of Boys Clubs 149 to win from the 29 overs remaining.

Following the loss of four early wickets the visitors staged a great recovery with partnerships between Sam Weight (Frenford Clubs) and Hall worth 23 and an unbeaten partnership of 25 between Hall and Brunton.

Essex Association of Boys Clubs activities co-ordinator Keith Cramner said: "This was a great learning curve about timed cricket for the team, and for Felsted who were unable to bowl us out."

South Essex District Cricket Board Knock-out results:

Horndon on the Hill 170/4 - Paul Gamman 61, Danny Joyce 51no, Danny Laird 2/43; Pegasus & Corringham 91 all out - Daryl Hymas 23, Danny Laird 21, Ben Knowles 4/11, Ryan Plom 2/30. Horndon won by 79 runs.

Stanford-le-Hope 118 all out - Matthew Page 24, Ross Poulton 23, Martin Leslie 4/29. Grays & Chadwell 114/8 - Andrew Hills 37no, Ian Sanderson 5/15. Stanford-le-Hope won by 4 runs.

Knockout Final Tuesday July 1 - Horndon on the Hill v Stanford-le-Hope at Horndon CC 6pm.