THE WEEKEND saw all three league elevens victorious again in their T Rippon Mid Essex League fixtures. The 1st XI remain second in division two just 5 points adrift of the also unbeaten Herongate who they face in a fortnights time. The 2nd team are handily placed third in division six and the 3rd team are now 22 points clear at the top of division eleven and also remain unbeaten.
Saturday 9th June
The 1st XI entertained Rayleigh Fairview at Blackshots and after winning the toss elected to bowl first. In difficult scoring conditions after yet another week of rain the visitors were bowled out for just 127.
There were handy contributions from Casey (40) and Osboune (24) but no real support from anyone else. The wickets were shared around with two each for Rob Neal plus the Hills brothers Matt and Andrew. Abdul Stanikzai picked up the best figures finishing with 3-11 off of his 6.3 overs. In reply Thurrock lost regular wickets to Lawson (2-28) and Osbourne (3-22) but chased down the total reasonably comfortably with time to spare. It was Matt Hills (56*) who again shone with the bat and steered Thurrock to victory by 4 wickets.
The 2nd XI travelled to St John’s Billericay and the home side were well and truly on the receiving end after Thurrock’s dismal performance the previous Saturday. St John’s were inserted after losing the toss and with nothing really happening after 4 overs each from pacemen Tom Hills and Dan George skipper Paul Gelder elected to slow things down. Gelder came on himself and finished with the fine figures of 3-17 off of 11 overs including 7 maidens. It was however the other end that saw the individual performance of the day as Clarke Wren ripped through the St John’s batting order. He finished with a career best 7-20 off of 10.3 overs and also had a catch dropped for a hat-trick as the home side were blown away for just 53. The reply was short and sweet with 21 from Kevin Birch before he fell to a brilliant diving catch and Matt Diprose finished off a 9 wicket victory in the 12th over with a quick fire 21 not out.
The 3rd XI batted first at home against Little Baddow and looked like losing their unbeaten record as they were bowled out for just 95. Only Elliot McCartney (23) recorded anything of note as Jarvis (2-9), Churchouse (3-16), Sharmon (2-8) and Bucknell (2-4) ran through the Thurrock batting order. The Baddow reply led by Lucy (33) seemed to be heading in the right direction and despite being 6 wickets down they needed just 16 runs to win. Then Wayne Simmons (4-21) picked up his third and fourth wickets with opening bowler Dean Henry returning at the other end. Henry who finished with 4-28 then cleaned up the tail and the team performance of the day was completed as Baddow were bowled out for 94 giving Thurrock a thrilling victory by a single run.
Sunday 10th June
On Sunday the firsts travelled to Pegasus for a friendly and batted first posting 191-9 with Ross Fullbrook making 91 for the visitors. In reply Pegs were teetering on 44-4 when the heavens opened and the game was abandoned.
The seconds visited Belvedere where their hosts batted first setting a total of 177. There were three wickets apiece for Wayne Simmons (3-23) and Andrew Packer (3-37) aided by three catches from Dan George.
The Thurrock innings fell somewhat short as they were bowled out for just 87 with only Manwinder Singh (28) scoring anything of note.
