Scorecard

Billericay v Chelmer Veterans Cricket Club The Midweek Veterans on Thu 25 Apr 2024 at 13-00
Match was Abandoned

Match report Twenty-two hardy souls assembled at Billericay for the first game of the season, knowing it was going to be a chilly one where a pair of thermal long johns would be an important piece of kit, no sun hats necessary.

Griff lost his first toss of the coin for this season and fortunately Chelmer were invited to bat first but unfortunately Chris Sutherby got a rare golden duck to the first ball bowled. A short period of quiet reflection followed, obviously not for Suthers, but for Richard Cory and Mark Rynn who did a patient job building the innings and making sure the situation did not worsen. The pair batted for 15 overs, rotating the strike and running twos and threes when the slow outfield made it hard to find boundary. Eventually Rynn was well caught at point for 35, making it 76 for 2. Paul Lowe joined Rich and they steered the side to 88 for 2 at drinks (20 overs). By this time, hot tea would have been a better option than squash but the batters continued to keep warm by running well between the wickets. With the score on 93 in the 23rd over, Rich hit one in the air and was caught for a well-made 42, bringing Mark Stratton to the crease. Good slow bowling made runs hard to come by at first, but the scoring rate picked up during a 50-partnership from 12 overs until Paul was bowled for 28. Melvin John hit a quick 19 while adding 43 in 4.4 overs with Strats also attacking the bowling as the overs ticked by. Mel lost his wicket playing for the team, looking for quick runs, the score now 186 for 5 with just eight balls left. Skipper Griff faced five of those and scored 8 not out, and with Mark 45 not out, Chelmer had scored 197 for 5 from their 40 overs, a decent total on a slow pitch and outfield.

Tea was taken in the warmth of the changing room, until the time to take the field could be delayed no longer, as grey rain clouds gathered. Griff, after WhatsApp-ing the team advising it was a two-sweater day, somehow managed to turn out in short sleeves, while we all watched the Essex 2nd XI file past the boundary edge, having already succumbed to the rain in the match on the top pitch. But Chelmer Vets are made of sterner stuff and 12 overs were bowled before we were forced to call it a day, the match abandoned. Billericay had reached 46 for 1, despite good bowling as most of the runs came from sharply-run singles and shots where the ball was riskily whipped from the line of the stumps. Phil Bartlett hit the timber for our only success when Sood missed a straight one.

Here's hoping a longer journey next week is rewarded with some proper cricket weather.

Chelmer Veterans Cricket Club The Midweek Veterans Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
9w 8b 3lb 
for 5 wickets
20
197		        
Chris Sutherby b Brown 0
Richard Cory ct b Smith 42 2
Mark Rynn ct Wakefield b Black 35 1
Paul Lowe b Farndon 28 2
Mark Stratton Not Out  45 4
Melvin John b Santosh 19 2
David Griffiths Not Out  8 1
Phillip Bartlett  
Chris Baker  
Ed Oliver  
Alan Porter  

Billericay Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
G Brown8.0036136.004.50
Marshall6.003500.005.83
Farndon8.0142142.005.25
Black8.0020120.002.50
Smith5.0123123.004.60
Rob L3.001700.005.67
Santosh2.0011111.005.50

Billericay Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 1 wickets
0
44 (12.0 overs)		     
Wakefield Not Out  9
Sood b Bartlett 24
Merhotra Not Out  1
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Chelmer Veterans Cricket Club The Midweek Veterans Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Chris Baker4.001600.004.00
Phillip Bartlett5.0019119.003.80
Alan Porter2.00500.002.50
David Griffiths1.00400.004.00