WEEK two of the Shepherd Neame Essex competition saw each Belhus team compile impressive victories. There were two centurions and two second eleven players took hat-tricks in the same innings.
In addition, the club has progressed to the third round of the Essex and Suffolk group of the Davidstow National Village Cup after being involved in a sensational tie at Worlington. Both teams scored 252 for 6 after forty overs each, with Belhus succeeding due to a superior run rate in the first twenty overs.
Belhus CC 1st XI 248-2 dec
Hutton 1st XI 97 all out
Brothers Joe and Danny Joyce combined to put on an unbroken partnership of 125 for the third wicket at North Stifford on Saturday. It was Joe who stole the limelight by scoring back-to-back league centuries, this time attaining a magnificent 147 not out, which included 21 boundaries. Danny finished with 51 not out when the declaration came after 45 overs.
In the post tea session, Danny Norris bagged 5-37 from 15 overs, four of which were maidens, while Dan Dreher claimed 4-22 from six overs. Martin Guilbert excelled in the field, pouching three catches in the outfield. Earlier, the two wickets to fall in the Belhus innings were claimed by Carl Mumba and William Southgate.
Belhus 2nd 242 all out
Harlow 2nd 83 all out
Harlow won the toss and inserted Belhus on a pitch that was green from the midweek rain. Good attentive batting from Wayne Read and Stuart Morris suppressed the Harlow opening attack as these two posted 45 for the opening partnership. However, Belhus then managed to collapse to 84 for 5 and were teetering on the brink of defeat until Charlie Lewis (67) and Chris Baker (43) contrived to forge a game changing partnership of 82 runs. The clean striking of the pair was most eye catching. Further cameos from Imran Mohammed (27) and Gary Sanderson (17), lifted the score; a fine effort in the circumstances.
In reply, Harlow were soon in trouble from the testing seam and swing bowling of Mohammed (2 for 24). However, the entrance of Gary Sanderson and latterly Matthew Williams really moved the game on at a pace. 44 for 2 soon became 76 for 4 and it was at this stage the game entered its spectacular conclusion.
In the space of just nine deliveries, Sanderson and Williams took individual hat-tricks and the last four wickets fell in successive balls. Full, seam up, swing bowling had bowled Harlow out cheaply and produced a winning margin of 159 runs.
Billericay 4th 194-8
Belhus 3rd 195-1
Richard Day struck a fine 103 not out while Tom Thompson hit 70 not out as Belhus eased their way to their target. For Billericay, Farmer scored 79.
Walthamstow 4th 112 all out
Belhus 4th 113-4
The introduction of spin proved to be Walthamstow’s downfall as Braydon Scarlett and John Wilson picked up seven wickets between them. Scarlett snared three victims for just one run from four overs while Wilson bagged four wickets for only four runs (two maidens).
Wickford 5th 164-8
Belhus 5th 115-9
Outside of league competition, Belhus welcomed the re-appearance of their fifth eleven at Thames Rugby Club. Teenager Eathan Morris scored 51 – his maiden half century in senior cricket. Mark Thomas gave valuable support with twenty runs fewer.
For Wickford Kidd, enjoyed a fine all round match. He scored 65 and then went on to restrict the Belhus reply with 4-16 which included a hat-trick to end the match.
