Not only did England earn a defiant draw in the test match today (well done Collingwood, Anderson and Panesar!) but there’s good news from Rayleigh Cricket Club too:
4th July: The Club fielded seven Saturday sides for the first time ever and all five league teams won.
The 1st XI took first knock against Herongate and totalled 264?8, Craig Baird top scoring with 70. they then bowled out the visitors for 110, Mike Walsh taking 6?50 and Mark Cane 3?43.
The 2s went to Hullbridge and bowled them out for 90, Richard Abley taking 5?28 and Stuart Whiter 3?18. Jason Ox scored 47 not out in an eight wicket victory.
The 3rd XI had a welcome return to form, Simon Lennox (96) and John Wright (54) leading the way to a score of 267?7 against Sandon 2s, who scored 158 all out in reply, Mitul Patel 3?26 and Adam Dudmish 3?39 being the leading wicket takers.
The 4th XI bowled Eastwood 3s out for 82 (Matt Walker 4?15) and Chris Grob 39 and Brad Walker knocked the runs off without losing a wicket.
The 5th XI bowled St Johns (Billericay) 2s for 103, Nathan Healey taking 6?23 and won comfortably by 9 wickets.
The 6th A XI entertained Chelmsford 6s and restricted them to 84?4 after the first 20 overs but a forceful knock by P Drain (66) took them to 205?8. Matt Williams 2?17 and Gideon Humphries 1?26 were the pick of the Rayleigh bowlers. The 6As were 111?4 after 20 overs but after Matt Williams was out for 75, the innings subsided to 147 all out.
The 6th B XI played Orsett 5s and batting first were all out for 97, which score Orsett passed for the loss of 3 wickets.
To put out seven elevens in one afternoon is a truly remarkable event in the history of Rayleigh Cricket Club in its 107th season.