With the first win of 2021 under our belts, we travelled to Great Baddow who were in the bottom half of the table with us, but with Liam Jones leading the way as skipper while Rob Hewer recovered from a stiff neck (read had multiple beers at the Bull while watching the 2s) Great Baddow had been a notoriously difficult place to bat recently, with the highest score so far being just 125. With the pitch soaking wet, green and soft despite a week's worth of sunshine, it was difficult to see how either side would surpass 125 this week, and so when he won the toss Liam elected to bowl. Harry Cooper, Cailean Kinsella, Josh Chadwick returning to the side. Rob Hewer, Paul Marks and Issey Croft making way.
We started pretty poorly in the field, I dropped a simple chance at point in the first over, and the best way to describe our ground fielding would be "on our heels". Great Baddow's openers put on 64 before Cheesey broke the partnership, deservedly and loudly letting us know how he felt about our "shocking fielding" (paraphrased due to language) and to "get our act together" (paraphrased due to language). Fortunately, that was the last time Cheesey needed to "Hulk up" that day, helped by the fact he then dismissed 5 of Baddow's top 6 batsmen. Baddow's other opener offered few chances and swung his way to 73, but the off-spin twins of Jonny Hewer and Harry Cooper took two wickets each to continue the Baddow collapse. Baddow posted 150 exactly, and while this was 25 more than any other side had managed this year. The pitch in truth, while slow and low, hadn't misbehaved and we knew that so long as we batted the 45 overs, we should be able to grind out the result. Harry Cooper driving this home over lunch, "dig in boys, take your time, there's absolutely no rush to chase this".
Liam & his best man went out to open, Harry promptly put his first ball back over the bowlers head for 6, and took 10 from the first over he faced, he hit another for in the third over and had raced to 14. Baddow swiftly put a man back on the long-off boundary, and he was well caught next ball. I think do as I say, not as I do, may have been mentioned on his return to the pavilion (patch of grass by the boundary). This brought the two Springfield match-winners together, but it wasn't quite to be this week, Tommy out 9. Josh Chadwick quickly followed and we were arguably teetering on a collapse at 51/3. What followed was brilliant attritional cricket between Jones & Kinsella as both resolutely defended and did exactly what we had planned, batted long and batted deep. Liam faced 117 balls for his 59, and Cailean 81 balls for his 26, but both innings were exactly what was required on that pitch. Jonny Hewer & Sam Bowen completed the chase, both hitting two boundaries to seal the game with 3 overs to spare.
Two wins in two for the 1st XI took us out of the relegation zone, and we return to Bull Meadow to face Rettendon next week.
Star Man - Ollie Cheeseman 10-3-30-5.
