Match Report - Earls Colne & Bures vs. Lexden 08/08/04

(PDQ Cars League - Division 3)

Earls Colne & Bures 297 for 6 (45 overs)

(Will Amos 68, Craig Lesiak 43, Glen Lesiak 70 not out)

Lexden 64 all out (29 overs)

Earls Colne and Bures won by 233 runs

E C & B returned to winning ways with an emphatic victory, beating 10-man Lexden at Spring Lane by the not inconsiderable margin of 233 runs! On a blisteringly hot afternoon, the coin fell favourably for the visitors, who huddled together in the shade of the gazebos whilst the opening bats sweltered their way to the crease and beyond. Will Amos was quickly in the runs with some cleanly hit boundaries, but more than his fair share of play-and-misses as well. David Coyle perished early to a ball which was dieing of heatstroke and Lazy Lesiak arrived to join in the fun. The score moved on efficiently to 110 for 1 off 23 overs before Will succumbed for a brutal 68, a total which included five sixes. Lazy and little brother Glen continued the punishment in the sun for Lexden, before the former was ignominiously bowled trying to square cut a pea roller, and a straight pea roller at that! 151 for 3. The sound start provided by the top order provided a perfect platform for the later batsmen to hit out as poor Lexden wilted in the heat, with useful contributions from James Lee (13), Kevin Coyle (27) and Joe Dutton (6). Innings closed at 297 for 6 with Glen Lesiak 70 not out and Graham Sills 25 not out. An excellent team batting performance and a daunting total.

Tea under the gazebo was pleasant affair with Lexden rehydrating en masse and Mr. Slow, having umpired in the sun for 38 overs, doing a passable impression of a piece of toast. Sadly tea, that most refreshing of summer drinks, was not available, thanks to the demise of the Lexden pavilion during the winter months courtesy of an arson attack, but plans are afoot to rebuild in traditional style and hopefully that essential cricket tea beverage will make a welcome return in the new building. Good on ya Lexden!

If Lexden were beginning to think that it was just not their day, the events of the first over after tea were to prove it, as the opening over from Chris Chambers yielded two wickets, both clean bowled and both from less than distinguished deliveries! The opening Chambers/Lazy Lesiak attack stifled the Lexden batters and any slim hope that they may have had of approaching the monster E C & B total disappeared. Following an astounding Amos slip catch off Lazy to dismiss the Lexden skipper, the stage was set for Coyley and Mr. Slow with the former as accurate as ever and the latter presenting his usual and varied range of deliveries, some of which excited the umpire to flap his arms in an outward direction. 3 wickets apiece followed for these two bowlers, with Amos once again excelling with an extraordinary catch at long-on, off Mr. Slow.

The emphatic victory was celebrated in the Lexden Crown, an establishment which is bucking trends in the fashion world and hanging grimly on to its ruch curtains from 1994! Satisfactory beer arrangements were thankfully in place and the two teams exchanged jaunty and jovial insults across the bar, taking care not to interfere with the passage of plates of filo prawns, presented on beds of Ongar loam and finished with bluebottle coulis.

This victory returns E C & B to the top of the table; Galleywood have not played this week. The two teams remain neck and neck, but Galleywood have games in hand. It's gonna be close .....

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