Match Report - Earls Colne & Bures vs. Boxted 03/07/05

Earls Colne & Bures 191 for 9 (45 overs)

(James Lee 58, James Allen 36)

Boxted  137 All Out (37 overs)

E C & Bures won by 54 runs

We won! An excellent team effort from E C & B got its reward as the home side comfortably defeated Boxted.

Old rivals Mr. Slow and Sylvester McKnight strolled out to the wicket, the former assuming the laconic persona of his counterpart. A green Bures wicket greeted the captains, offering the prospect of early assistance to the side bowling first with the new ball. Calling correctly, Mac grinned broadly as he asked Bures to bat. The game was on!

The opening burst from the Boxted bowlers was of a high order, particularly that of Dar, bowling just short of a length. Potty fell cheaply, attempting to pull, but James Lee played soundly and in line, milking the single on the leg side. Enter James Allen, leaving his old mucker Shenners moping on the boundary, and announcing his defensive intentions with a pair of pulled fours. The score marched on as the change bowlers were pasted, before Allen perished to a loose shot to a wide ball. Lee continued to hold his own, reaching his 50 in good time and enjoying the moment. Pleasing contributions from Jamie Pringle and Shenners followed before a fine last wicket stand of 39 between Joe Smith and Patrick McKenna saw E C & B close at 191 for 9, pretty much par, we thought.

A Ros Brogan tea followed, with prawn sarnies and locally baked cakes. Excellent! The Boxted reply began tentatively with a Joe Smith maiden. As Mr. Slow commenced his runup, few could have anticipated the events which were to ensue. First ball, a full-toss to old rival Silvester, was chipped gently back to the bowler who dived full length to enjoy a caught and bowled of his opposite number, a golden duck for the Boxted skipper. The next ball to the new batsman, a dot. The next, short and leggy, was adeptly chipped to Joe Smith at fine leg for an easy catch! Boxted 0-2. Out strode Boxted bowling nemesis Dar who smote the first Slow delivery for an effortless six over long-on and then nurdled 3 runs off the remaining two balls. One over, 9 runs, 2 wickets. It quickly became apparent that Dar was the danger man and so it was with much relief that he holed out to Joe Smith at the end of the 3rd over, McKenna holding the catch. Boxted 11 for 3, 18 for 4, and 33 for 5. The game seemed won, but there was spirited mid-order resistance as Mr Slow rotated his bowlers and manoeuvred his field in the quest for a breakthrough. Finally, the ball was tossed to Jamie Pringle who, bowling with his lovely high action, took two vital wickets to effectively strangle the Boxted revival. From there, Boxted capitulated to 137 all out, representing an excellent team effort on the part of E C & B. Joe Smith 10-4-25-3, Mr. Slow 10-4-22-3, Patrick McKenna 6-0-35-0, Chris Chambers 9-2-34-2, Jamie Pringle 3.2-0-20-2.

A win! Yes, a win!

The big juicy 20 point haul still leaves us at the foot of division 2 of the PDQ League, but now not far adrift of other lowly teams. Next week Great Bentley, and what a difference another 20 points would make!

Team - Colin Bocking, Patrick McKenna, Christopher Chambers, Joe Smith, James Bocking, James Lee, John Gibson, James Allen, Mark Shennan, Himesh Patel, Jamie Pringle.

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