Daniel Petts' half century is key in Horndon victory (From Thurrock Gazette)

Thurrock's Under 16 indoor series hots up

6:00pm Thursday 28th February 2013 in Sport

CRICKET: A SUPERB undefeated half century from Daniel Petts guided Horndon to a 28-run win over Stanford in the first match of the U16 indoor cricket sixes at Grays School.

Meanwhile, team colleague Daniel Stone rocked up with a solid 19 runs to his name as Horns closed on 94 for the loss of five wickets, despite some accurate bowling from Jonathan Edwards (2-16).

Stanford’s Ethan Thomas was alert with three catches as wicketkeeper. The Hope faded to 66 all out in reply, despite some sterling work by Tom Willats with 18 runs. Alex Kojczyk was the pick of the Horndon bowling with two wicket for 17 runs.

It was an all-Orsett affair when the A and B teams met for the second match of the tournament. Orsett A struck an impressive 128 for the loss of two wickets, while Orsett B were constrained to 89 after their alloted dozen overs, though deserve credit for losing only one wicket, that of James Harvey for 15 runs. Other run makers for the B team were opener Klay Smith with 25no, while Harry Hearn and Ryan Page were also undefeated with 15 and 12 respectively. But their performances were slightly overshadowed by the A team as Tom Haden and Joe Mitchell put on 28 runs inside the first 2.5 overs, with Haden scoring 15 and Mitchell bagging 10 runs. Harry Lockyer finished with 27 not out and George Smith was equally untroubled with 25 to his name. To boost the Orsett A score still further, Connor Boreham came to the wicket with only one ball remaining.

And he promptly dispatched the ball for a boundary six. Best bowling, in a match dominated by strong batting, was Harvey's effort for the B team, which yielded figures of 1-13.

In the third and final fixture of the evening, Thurrock scored 109 all out for whom Connor Ramm crafted a masterly 44 runs, after which Belhus "B" were dismissed for 44, despite the best efforts of their captain, Toby Reynolds, who contributed 25 runs. In the bowling stakes, Thurrock’s Catherine Hodge picked up 2-14, while team colleague Bilal Qureshi returned figures of1-8. For Belhus, Freddie Todd ended with two wickets. But this was at a cost of 31 runs. This week’s fixtures (Friday 1st March): 6pm - Thurrock take on Stanford le Hope. And at 7pm Belhus A square up to Belhus B.