Earls Cone Versus Maldon.  18 August, at Maldon

A fine bright day, but with a forecast for rain definitely coming later.  There had been some rain overnight which left the wicket looking dark coloured, and maybe slow.  Maldon won the toss and elected to bat.

The Maldon innings started calmly with 15 runs coming off the first four overs, but then a period of tight bowling from TK and Oakers started to put the pressure on the Maldon batting side.  Soon the pressure told, with opener Coker out, bowled, followed shortly afterwards by their number two snicking a catch to keeper Johnny Lee. Their number three didn't help things by pinging the ball straight into Willy Willsher's hands at point, and they were three down for thirty and in a bit of trouble.  Their number five, MacCallum looked like he might cause us some trouble, lifting perfectly good deliveries to cow corner, with excellent hand-eye coordination.  But he too, managed to find the field, offering TK a simple catch at square leg, and the score was 44 for 4. Maldon needed a partnership and Broadhurst and Cousins combined to add an untroubled 50 to the total, the score passing 100 in the 30th over, for four wickets down - a perfectly good platform for a score of 200.  But Broadhurst snicked one to Johnny lee off Rob Gibson's bowling and Collins was out for 47, caught by Stuart Prestney, and the pressure was back on Maldon.  Gozzett struck a few lusty blows, accompanied by the young lady Penketh, and they managed to keep their wickets in hand, and with a big final over they managed to score 182 for 9, Richardson being run out off the last ball.

Maldon 182 - 9.  J Collins 47, Oakley 4 for 31

An excellent tea, with square sandwiches refreshed us for the task ahead. But how would we do out on the square?

Stuart started by scoring a couple of clean boundaries and we were on our way, but was bowled off his pads before he really got going.  Johnny Lee and Steve Willsher steadied the ship, but both fell in quick succession leaving us on 37 for 3, and our customary weekly struggle began. We needed a partnership and Ballsy and Dave Brooker put on an untroubled 89 runs, before Dave was out caught for 62 off the top edge with the score on 126. With less than 60 to win, we should surely cruise home?  Dave Cooney was smartly stumped as he overbalanced towards the distant boundary, and young Will Clark set off for a quick run that wasn't there.  To add to our trouble Ballsy was bowled by one that kept low, and we were 144 for7.  Surely no need for panic, but more than five runs an over were required, leading to a nervous journey down the home straight.  TK pushed for a single, but it was in the fielder's hands too quickly, and he was run out in the ensuing confusion. Eight down, 13 to win.  Half a dozen of the runs were ticked off without fuss by Will Castlleman and Oakers, before big Will changed his mind half way through his shot and offered the gentlest of catches to midwicket.  Nine down, 5 to win, seven balls to go.  Dot ball.  Last over. Rob Gibson and Oakers at the crease. Dot. One. One. One Dot.

Last ball, every result possible. Rob Gibson facing. One run would tie the game, two would win it.  But we could still lose.  The big plan is that Oakers would charge down the wicket, the moment the ball left the bowler's hand - get the tie at least.  But this plan was made redundant as Rob crisply hit the ball through the vacant midwicket area for two runs, and we sealed a nerve jangling victory by one wicket.  Phew!

Earls Colne 183 - 9.  Brooker 62.  Richardson 6 for 65

Earls Colne win by 1 wicket.  Earls Colne 19 points.  Maldon 8 points