Another win for the 1's at the Shen sees us maintain our position at the top of the league after beating Westcliff-on-Sea by 71 runs.
Given the opposition, it was surprising to see skipper Dave Hickey decide to bat first, possibly in the hope that another long day in the field would get us extra runs and wear down the visitors. The plan almost spectacularly backfired as Jack Plom was dropped off the very first ball by what many would have considered an easy chance. Another loose shot saw him dismissed in the fourth over with the score on 19, thus negating the chance to reproduce last week's solid opening partnership. Tom Arnold's batting was equally a polar opposite to last week's performance as he was dropped on 15 and 20 before being given out LBW a run later. The returning Ryan Plom was caught in the next over for 15, and with the score on 48-3, it was time for a wake-up call. Caleb Seleka had been moved up the order to provide stability, but lost his wicket for the first time this season with the score on 75, adding another 20 runs to his account.
A partnership of value finally arrived with 60 runs added by Ronnie Jackson and Tom Austin before Jacko was caught and bowled for 31 shortly after drinks. This brought in Will Howard, who along with Tom put on a run-a-ball partnership of 96, seeing Tom pass 50 from 48 balls (10 x 4's) in the 31st over and then getting himself dropped from the very next ball. The two of them saw us pass the 200 mark in the 36th over and another imposing score looked on the cards. Tom fell 12 runs short of a century in the 42nd over (14 x 4's, 1 x 6), and a target of 300 was still achievable. However, a brief cameo from the newly-married Jamie Walton (2, having already been dropped on nought) and the fall of Will for 62 (having got to his 50 in 46 balls with 7 x 4's) saw the lower order succumb quite meekly, and we were bowled out for 271 in the 48th over.
Tom Arnold continued his impressive bowling this season by starting off with TWO wicket maidens, including a first ball wicket. In between, Jack also took a wicket, and with Tom taking a third wicket in the eighth over, Westcliff were reduced to 22-4. Thinking that the game was done and dusted, we seemed to take our foot off the proverbial throat and let them conduct the game. Whilst there wasn't a realistic chance of them getting to their target, there appeared to be a general lethargy that spread through the team, with no real pressure applied. Partnerships were formed without chasing runs, and if this had a been a timed game, we would have become increasingly frustrated. Another first for Caleb was the fact that he only finished with one wicket, whilst another two for Charlie Haddon (moaning that no-one had selected him in the fantasy league!) another three for Big Al Rickenbach finally saw Westcliff bowled out for 200, also in the 48th over.
Another win gained, Westcliff were a lot happier with their performance than the last time we played them, bowling them out for 55 last season. We expected a victory, but looked like we were waiting for them to roll over. There didn't appear to be any real urgency, and with the game drifting past 7:30pm before the final wicket fell. With more difficult games than this to come, a more pro-active attitude is needed.
Away to Woodford Wells next week in the last of our overs games, a stiffer test is sure to come.
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