Stanford-Le-Hope CC 191/6 (27.2 overs)
Thurrock CC 190/4 (40 overs)
In an eagerly awaited top of the table clash in the Essex Sunday League at the Recreation Ground Stanford came out comfortable winners. Thurrock captain Mark O’Neill won the toss and elected to bat, a decision that would prove costly as the game went on. Stanford opening pair of Andrew Love (1/26 off 8 overs) and Greg Cohen (1/9 off 8 overs) settled in quickly removing both openers Chris Buckley and Umar Ayub cheaply. The Thurrock batsman could hardly lay a bat on the fantastic spell of bowling from the Stanford attack at they reached 65/2 at the drinks break. With the introduction of spin, Thurrock captain O’Neill started to push the ball around in his usual comfortable style frustrating the Stanford fielders. Once Abdul Stanikzai ran himself out for 17 and Iftikar Ali got stumped off the bowling of Ross Poulton, Stanford were firmly in the box seat . Neil Samwell was at his frugal best and only a stone’s width of getting a wicket as he tied up an end as Matt Hills joined O’Neill at the crease looking to post a defendable total. Both batsman ended up 34 not out and 83 not out respectively but a score of 190 seemed light on an outfield which was lightning quick.
Stanford opening batsman Harry Maher started in positive fashion as he hit a quick-fire 38 as Thurrock heads were starting to drop. Once Maher was caught on the boundary and Leslie (15) was bowled, fellow opener Alex Ellis decided to drop anchor. He was joined at the crease by Robert Page who wanted to start where Maher had left off. Page’s innings of 59 from just 33 balls took the game firmly away from Thurrock as Stanford edged closer to the Thurrock total. Thurrock spinner Jay Shojahi (3/30) was the pick of the Thurrock bowlers as Greg Cohen (19 not out) and Ross Poulton (7 not out) finished the game with some 13 overs still left to bowl. Stanford moved to the top of the Essex Sunday League as Thurrock were left to lick their wounds from a second defeat in a couple of weeks at the hands of Stanford.
Marvellous Maher slays Benfleet!
Stanford-Le-Hope CC 194 all out
Benfleet CC 136 all out
Stanford got their league season back up and running after a comfortable win against struggling Benfleet despite being hampered with an injury to their skipper Lee Knight. Experienced Duncan Page took the reigns as captain and the elder statesman of the side proved to be a major contributor to the Stanford innings. Benfleet opening bowling pair of Steed (6/55) and Hancock (1/54) reduced Stanford to 62-5 with only Robert Page (27) showing any resistance. Duncan Page joined Martin Leslie at the crease and set about the task of rebuilding the Stanford innings but when Leslie went for 31, Page had to dig deep to frustrate the Benfleet bowlers. Late call-up Andrew Love (15) proved able support with some cheeky late cuts for Page as he passed his half century. Page ended up on 56 not out as Stanford posted 194 on a deteriorating track at the recreation ground.
In reply Benfleet got off to a flyer as Tremain (21) and Hancock (31) took the attack to the make-shift Stanford opening pair of Drain and Barr. Andrew Love took a magnificent catch to remove Tremain off the bowling of Drain but as Benfleet reached 74-1 the game looked out of reach for Stanford. Skipper Page then made two inspired bowling changes bringing on Poulton (2/38) and Aussie Harry Maher. Maher produced a devastating spell of bowling ripping through the Benfleet batting order as he went to pick up match figures of 7/36 off only 8 overs. Benfleet fell 58 runs short of the Stanford total as Stanford cemented their 4th position in the table whilst Benfleet were sent to the bottom of the pile.
