CRICKET: ORSETT’s first string shared the honours with Westcliff on Sea at School Lane in a rain effected encounter on Saturday.

Orsett won the toss and decided to bow first, a decision that they initially thought was the right one as the Westcliff openers went cheaply.

Peter Barnes and Lewis Groves went for 12 and 17 respectively as Jack Plom and Alex Karkoski made the first inroads before the on- form Shahid Khan pulled them back them up with the wicket of Gareth Bull (lbw for 37).

But then Adam Pickering got into his stride with the bat and produce an impressive 91 to steady the ship and set Westcliff on course for a decent score.

In the end they bagged 244 for 9, with other helpful contributions from Adnam Khan (26) Graham Cox’s not out 20 in the tail and Alex Hatton’s late 18.

Paul Bennett’s bowling allowed Orsett’s catching machine to harvest plenty of wickets.

Scott Douglas added to Karkoswi’s, Khan and Bennett’s wicket taking.

Bennett’s six wickets were key for Orsett, but Westcliff’s turn in the field looked dodgy from the off when Ryan Plom set about the bowling attack and nudged and slotted his way to 120 runs to give Orsett the perfect start to their innings.

But, despite 33 from Paul Bennett and 46 from Scott Douglas, the rest of the Orsett line up fell like skittles to leave Orsett 230 for 7 in a match was was rain effected.

The shared points are a real bodyblow for Westcliff who are now preparing for a season in Westcliff – only a season after being promoted to Division Two.