After being relegated from the Premier Division in 2019, the 1s found themselves back in the Premier Division for the 2021 season after new captain Rob Hewer wrote a nicely worded letter to the league & led the 1s to the title of the East Essex Cricket League in the Covid shortened 2021 season. The Premier League now looks considerably weaker after an exodus of nearly all the best sides to the SNEL.
The first visitors to Bull Meadow were a much-changed Tillingham side, who seem to have recruited from Hatfield Peveral, Rettendon & Great Baddow throughout the winter. Rob won the toss (1/1) and decided to have a field, on a pitch where 480 runs were scored the week previous. Big-Time and DQ opened up, the later soon had the potentially dangerous Cummins caught at mid-off for 8. Tillingham came out the blocks swinging hard, and after a mis-skewed drive over cover took some stick from the slips, the other Tillingham opener tried to walk down the pitch to Sam who took the shoulder of the bat through to Nob at slip. The number 3 then drilled a sharp caught & bowled back to Sam and Tillingham were in disarray at 33/3.
Arguably Tillinghams best bat Shafi came in at 4, but did not look his usual fluent self. The partnership built to 63 before Cheesy took his first scalp of the season with Shafi out LBW (don't go back at Totham) for 14. Joe Davis had the number 6 LBW for 5 and Rob's decision to bowl appeared vindicated at 81/5.
After drinks, it fell apart, Totham bowled without much pressure and allowed Tillingham back into the game. Tillingham rebuilt their innings around Ryan Kennedy's favourite Romford Ice Hockey player Michael Gray (39), before late order hitting from Stiffell (65*) & Cheek (49*) saw Tillingham up to 268/8.
Sam Bowen the pick of the bowlers with 4/53. Cheesey next best returning 2/33.
BYO Teas. Thorey failed me this week. Last-minute Cornershop dash. Dry pastie + oddly flavoured energy drink. 2/10.
With Harry Cooper back at the top of the order, opening with the Captain. It was no surprise when we flew out of the blocks in the chase reaching 43 without loss in just over 5 overs. Nob (17) was then beaten by a ball that stayed slightly low, a sign of things to come. 43/1 quickly turned to 51/2 as Tommy missed a straight one. The best man was joined by the Groom, and Cooper continued to find the boundary regularly - 6 fours and 2 sixes in his 42. However was caught at long-on when he didn't fully extend his arms through one. Lumpy was clearly distraught at no longer being out in the middle with the Best Man, and decided to copy his dismissal chipping one down to long-off (admittedly Liam's took a much better catch from the fielder than Harry's!).
At 87/4 and Melman and Joe Davis at the crease, a rebuilding job was needed, we were still confident being well up with the run-rate and in no worse position than Tillingham at the same stage. But then Melman skied one for 12, Pooky had one shoot along the floor & Big-Time edged behind first ball the writing was on the wall. 81/4 had become 128/7 and it was left to Joe (31) to pick up bonus points with the tail.
We scraped past 150, but the last wicket fell with us still needing 104 runs still to win. Perhaps the biggest disappointment from the day was that we still had 16 overs left to bat. More disciplined batting from the top order could well have made this a much easier chase.
Credit to Tillingham, who bowled tight lines & varied their pace well on a pitch that seemed to get a lot slower and lower throughout the day. We look forward (well those of us who don't have to drive all that way) to the return fixture in July.
We go again next week with a trip to Aythorpe!
