Three wins on the trot, for the first time in our Premier League history left the 1st XI in high spirits as we travelled to bottom of the table Old Chelmsfordians. There was just one change as Jonny Hewer came in for the absent Tommy Hawkridge. Rob again won the toss and elected to bowl against an OCs side who had failed to score above 125 in five of their eight games so far this year.
George Baron and Sam Bowen shared the new ball, and while Big-Time was struggling to find a consistent length it was George who took the early wicket for us, and his first in June. About 11 over in, Rob decided that Phil doesn't prepare OCs wicket any differently to our own, and that spinners would be the most effective on the sluggish surface. Cheesey and JFH came on and started to make headway into the OCs middle order. Cheesey's spell flew by and he had again taken three wickets for under 30, meanwhile JFH had been replaced by Golden arm Cooper (can it be Golden arm any more given how consistent he's been this year?) who also got into the action. Harry confused the batsman so much with his gentle off-breaks, that one particular bat was convinced he hadn't hit a ball, despite being caught out at third slip. Thanks must go to OCs, who talked out their own number 11 & convinced him to give his wicket away, just as they were beginning a partnership that, based on our batting performance, may have taken the game out of our reach. In the end Rob's feelings were correct, with each of the spinners (Cheeseman, Cooper & hewer) taking 3 fer, and OCs were all out for 128.
Groom & Best-Man combo to open again, Liam persisting with the same bat despite leaving a large dent in the side of it after his dismissal last week. He was caught at cover early on, but the bat spared further punishment! Cooper looked very fluent and bashed his way to 23 from 25 balls, before being bowled by a full toss. Myself and Joe Davis couldn't replicate our Rettendon performances, and Melman missed all of the three balls he was seeing, so all of a sudden we were in a struggle at 56/5. The Hewer brothers dug in, but Rob fell quickly after drinks, and we were in disarray at 60/6. Queue, quite possibly the best captaincy decision made so far this season - a promotion for Ollie Cheeseman to 8. JFH & Cheesey batted with fantastic determination & doggedness to nudge and nurdle our way closer to the target. Cheesey facing 62 balls for 18, and Jonny 37 balls for 10.
When Jonny fell, we were still 38 short, but Dan Allen strode to the crease & pulled off arguably his best batting performance in the League for the 1st XI, striking 21 from 34 balls. Dan & Cooper looked like they were batting on completely different surfaces to everyone else, finding the boundary with ease. Dan did leave a tricky four runs for George Baron & Sam Bowen to tick off, but Sam whipped a two behind square on the legside to see us home.
Four wins from four leaves us in a great position to challenge for a top 3 spot as the fixtures reverse & we pass the halfway point in the season. We travel to Tillingham next weekend, looking for revenge after the drubbing they gave us in Gameweek 1.
Star man - Ollie Cheeseman 3/26 & a vital 18 (62).
