Although there was a win for the 1's at Woodford Green, it wasn't enough as Aztecs gained the two points needed to guarantee promotion despite our best efforts. They ended up winning their game anyway, so the league positions remained the same for the top four sides with us finishing third.
Having lost the toss, we were put in to bat on a very green strip. The early loss of Will Howard meant a cautious start for Jack Plom and Tom Arnold. The pair put on 77 for the second wicket with Jack getting his sixth half century (in all competitions) of the season before being the next batsman to fall. Tom and Nathan Woods then surpassed that, scoring 81. The score had reached 188 when Nathan fell for 39 and looking set to get his first 50 for the 1's. Tom had got to that mark already, his first 50 of the season, when, on 74, he tried his second scoop of the over, only to tamely lob the ball up to a very surprised wicketkeeper. Sam Bear also fell in this eventful over, trying twice to switch hit, and given out for trying to play the shot rather than being LBW, which he clearly wasn't! Captain Dave Hickey was the only player to have his stumps uprooted, Charlie Haddon played a cameo and Alex Rickenbach was run out at the end of the penultimate over. Batting at the other end through all of this was Tom Austin, who played the sort of knock you would like to see from someone batting with the lower order. He was unfortunately caught from the fifth ball of the final over for 49. A score of 279-9 was a decent enough total, but it could have been so much more, even though Woodford Green hadn't chased that sort of score all season.
A partnership of 60 for the sixth wicket was the highlight of their innings. Earlier, a finger injury to one of their openers by Sam, saw said opener retiring, and going home as the fourth wicket fell. Top of the bowlers was Charlie, who took four wickets for the first time in years, mainly due absence. Sam, Tom, Jack, Alex and Dan Green all took a wicket each as the hosts were bundled out for 224 in the 46th over, giving us a victory by 55 runs.
Next season sees us playing Harold Wood, Belhus, Bentley and Stanford-Le-Hope in the league, whilst moving out are Old Southendians, Aztecs, Horndon-On-The-Hill and Woodford Green. Different teams, different challenges. So close this season; here's hoping we have hat little bit extra next time around.
Hope you've enjoyed these reports. I hope to be writing more next year.
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