Match Report - Earls Colne & Bures vs. Chappel 11/06/05

Chappel 180 for 6 (40 overs)

(Patmore B. 73, Sibley 46)

Earls Colne & Bures  151 all out (34 overs)

(Himesh Patel 67)

Chappel won by 29 runs

A potentially excellent see-saw game at Bures between local rivals that was unfortunately spoiled by outrageous umpiring errors on the part of the visiting team's umpire, with two of the Bures top-order batsmen unfairly adjudged LBW effectively putting the total beyond E C & B.

A fine late Spring/early Summer afternoon greeted the players as the two captains (and bitter rivals!), Mr Slow for E C & B and Sibbo for Chappel tossed the coin with the latter failing the 50/50 test. MS opted to bowl with the new bowl on a relatively humid afternoon on a 40 over format and the home side were quickly amongst the wickets with Chappel restricted to 30 for 2 off 13 overs. However, with the arrival of Sibbo himself at the crease to partner Brett Patmore, the run rate increased and E C & B were glad of the relief of a drinks break at 25 overs, the score having moved on to 109 for 2. However, with the departure of the two batsmen to Wiggy's bowling, the balance of power once again swung to E C & B before a final flurry from Chappel sent us into tea with honours even.

Chasing 180 (quite getable), E C & B were shocked to lose Lewis Chambers LBW, well forward to a ball clearly hitting the pad outside the line of off stump as he played his shot. Wiggy was then caught behind off the faintest edge and despite the furore of the previous wicket he sportingly walked. We could not have predicted that Chris Crace (again forward, about as far as he could be) would also, amazingly, be adjudged LBW to his first delivery which would not have hit another two sets of stumps. Disaster! E C & B 3 for 3. If cool experienced heads were now required, they came from a most unlikely source in the form of Henry Pilgrim and Himesh Patel (19 and 15 years old respectively). The two youngsters batted superlatively and with a maturity which belied their tender years. The scoreboard moved on most satisfactorily to 111 for 3, with the Chappel total in sight, before a fatal mix up saw Henry depart run-out for a fine 34. Sadly, Himesh followed shortly, for an excellent 67, his first senior 50. Well done Himesh! The rot then set in. Mr. Slow threatened briefly but fell to a lazy defensive shot. Mark Harries was bowled trying to hit the ball out of the ground (again!) and big Patrick top edged to backward square. It was left to John Gibson and Joe Smith to try to pick off the required 35 runs with plenty of overs to spare. Sadly, cruelly, John was then adjudged LBW, this time admittedly on the back foot, but to a ball which was arguably going down the leg side, with E C & B still 29 runs short.

In the pub afterwards, the two sets of players laughed and drank into the night discussing the game in detail, the local rivalry as friendly as it has ever been. Another defeat for E C & B but not one of the 22 players in the two sides was in any doubt as to the deciding factor in the game. Man of the match? .....only one contender........and he wasn't even a player.

Team - Lewis Chambers, Adrian Wigan, Henry Pilgrim, Chris Crace, Himesh Patel, Jamie Pringle, Colin Bocking (Captain), Mark Harries, John Gibson, Patrick McKenna, Joe Smith.

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