IT was a positive week for Chelmsford Cricket Club, four wins against one defeat in the league fixtures on Saturday, and an exciting tie in the Sunday friendly.

Seven wickets for Shona Keaney in an incredible victory for the fourth team and a close victory for the first team over Brentwood were the main highlights.

The first team entertained Brentwood on an awkward pitch at Chelmer Park. Brentwood struggled to 155-9 batting first, with four wickets for Aaron Beard and three for James Clifford, though all bowlers kept things tight.

On a difficult pitch Brentwood were never out of the game but a well-compiled unbeaten 55 from Nick Prowting was enough to see Chelmsford home by two wickets.

The second team had a less successful time away at Wanstead. It was a good toss to win from Wanstead’s point of view but it would be unfair to suggest that they did not outplay Chelmsford, who made 145 batting first.

There were several starts but no scores larger than 26 in the innings. In spite of a run-out backing up from the first ball of the reply, as well as two wickets for Mark Drain, Wanstead knocked off the runs with six wickets and more than 16 overs to spare.

The third team returned to winning ways in an uninteresting game. Loughton totalled 88 having been 60-3, a lack of application causing the collapse. Sheraz Shahid (three for 19) and Tom Halsey (three for 18) were the chief beneficiaries, with Harry Arnold (two for 14) bowling well early on.

A mini-collapse with the score in the fifties briefly threatened to raise interest, but David Thrift (37*) provided the required stability to see Chelmsford home by seven wickets.

The fourth team won a remarkable game over Wanstead at Chelmer Park. Jay Smith made 41 and Matthew Davis 19 in Chelmsford’s poor-looking total of 90 all out with extras the only other contribution to make double figures.

But Shona Keaney, bowling unchanged throughout the innings, made a mockery of this by taking seven for 25, being well supported at the end by Davis’ three for 7. Wanstead were dismissed for 84 and somehow Chelmsford won by six runs.

A maiden century from Jordan Campion set the fifth team up for a victory over Basildon & Pitsea. His 103 provided the backbone of Chelmsford’s 183-6. Basildon subsided to 100 all out in reply, Dan Cornell and Luke Smith grabbing three wickets apiece, and Matt Cole two.

The Sunday second team returned from Havering-atte-Bowe with a tie. The home side compiled 218-7, with Steve Bond claiming two for 33 and Peter Banfield two for 43.

Seventy from Jay Smith, 58 from Anthony Holland and 47 from Ed Cole got Chelmsford close. Nine were required from the final two balls, but Jordan Campion’s six over long off brought that target down to three off one. Two runs were scrambled from the final ball and a tie resulted.