Chelmsford turn on the style with four wins

It had been a nightmare week for selection with 38 players unavailable and that caused the sixth team match to be called off.

However, the players rallied round with a particularly exciting win for the first team as the highlight. Shenfield were the team to suffer on the day as Chelmsford gained three wins against them, with the fourth team claiming a last over win against Hornchurch.

On President’s Day on Sunday, the first team proved very generous hosts, allowing the MCC to run up a total that they failed to chase. A strong second team gained a comfortable win over Sheering.

The best part of the day was Peter Anstee’s President’s Day lunch. A large number of guests were catered for with superb work in the kitchen from Jane Drain, Gill Hickman, Shirley Bailey, Amitya Pandya, Rosie Prowting, Nikki Tuff, Sue Lawrence and Berner Cranmer enabling things to go very smoothly for those on the other side of the serving hatch at least.

Having only won once in seven games, the first team badly needed a win and when they were bowled out for 149 by top of the table Shenfield, their prospects looked bleak.

Ollie Devenish took four wickets in an excellent opening spell but the visitors reached 122 for five with Arslan (34) seemingly leading them to a win. Patel made the breakthrough and Chelmsford kept chipping away at the wickets, Patel taking four for 38.

An excellent partnership between Nick Bailey and Gary Chidley carried the second team to a win at Shenfield. Stuart Everard’s four wickets helped restrict Shenfield to 236 with Hammond (54) top scoring. That was a very achievable target at a small ground and Bailey (87) and Chidley (53) took Chelmsford most of the way with Lee Cranmer (42*) applying the finishing touches.

The only side not to win were the third team who had their opponents nine down at the conclusion. Jack Moss (54) and Vit Sapaetharan (66) played well in Chelmsford’s innings of 188 with Ives (3-26) the most successful bowler.

Simmons (74) and Roach (46) had Shenfield in a strong position at 144 for three before Keith Goodman removed them both. Tom Arnold claimed three wickets as Chelmsford pushed for a win and the innings collapsed before the last pair secured a draw.

The second exciting game at Chelmer Park saw a run out in the last over that handed Chelmsford a win. Chris Drain (62) played brilliantly and Chelmsford did well to post 196 for nine in the face of an outstanding spell from Anjum (4-39).

Mason (51) prospered in the chase but Harry Green followed up his 32 with three wickets to rip through the middle order and with four wickets from Alistair Fergus, Chelmsford entered the last over needing a wicket to win. Drain and Fergus combined to take advantage of some panicky running.

Alex Bailey and his uncle Barry Clayden were the stars as the fifth team secured an important win. Mahmood (50) and Neale (37) had Shenfield in a good position at 133 for three but Bailey (5-20) and Adam Chantry (4-40) engineered a collapse to 150 all out.

Clayden made an undefeated 77 to guide the team home with a useful contribution from Tahir Khan (24).

Although they played some nice shots, MCC got into a bit of trouble at 123 for five and a number of part-time bowlers were called into play to ensure a decent total. The lower order had some fun at the expense of these bowlers and the score was boosted to 266 for nine.

Philp grabbed three early wickets before Dan Hagen (85) and Chris Prowting (43) batted Chelmsford back into the match. James Clifford (45) batted really well but a couple of silly shots saw Chelmsford dismissed for 241, Philp taking two more to return five for 35.

A strong Sunday second team gave Sheering a hard time in the field. Saturday captains Darren Thompson and Steve Pleasant both hit half centuries in Chelmsford’s 243 for four.

Barton made a half century in reply but the rest of the team faltered with Abi Kumar, Paul Keaney and Pleasant grabbing a brace apiece.