After both our 1st and 2nd XIs chased promotion throughout the summer, it all came down to the final day, with the 1st team needing to pick up two bonus points to finish the job away at Westcliff and the 2s requiring a win at home to fellow promotion hopefuls Frenford.
The 1st team made remarkably light work of what could have been a nervy afternoon at Chalkwell Park. After winning a crucial toss, Captain Walton elected to bowl meaning that just 5 wickets were required to secure Division One status for 2027. Opening bowlers Sam Bear (6-22) and Ollie Todd (3-16) then proceeded to tear Westcliff's batting line-up apart, as they combined to bowl Westcliff out for 40 in 12.3 overs with only a direct hit run out from the skipper preventing them from taking all 10 wickets.
Theo (30*) and Joey (14*) then knocked off the 41 required to win in 6 overs to secure the most comprehensive of 10 wicket wins, promotion and one of the earliest finishes in the club's history, with the game all wrapped up before 1.30pm... This was also a fitting way for Jamie Walton to finish his club career. He told the team after the game that he was retiring after 25 years of playing senior cricket at the club. Congratulations on a brilliant stint Jamie!
The early finish allowed the team to quickly hit the A127, return to HQ and help the 2s get over the line as they looked to make it a double promotion day.
After being put in to bat by Frenford, we quickly found ourselves in trouble against some very accurate bowling. We were 3-2 at the end of the second over, then 21-3 when the experienced George Ballington departed. But 2s league debutant Yash Mahindroo (U16) proved to be the rock the side needed, as he compiled a crucial and classy 68 while negotiating some quality spinners to help us reach 121 all out. It was well below par, but Yash had ensured we at least had something to bowl at.
What followed was one of the more memorable innings in recent memory. New ball bowlers Pilgrim and Dowlen were outstanding with the new ball. By the time their opening spells had finished either side of the early tea break, Frenford were 67-6. A combination of relentless accuracy and quality fielding contributed to somehow finding ourselves in a winning position.
The spinners maintained the pressure that had been built, as George Ballington struck in his first over to make it 72-7. But Imtiaz and Shahid brought calm to the situation for the 8th wicket, steering Frenford to drinks with a risk free partnership of 29 to swing the game back in their favour.
Thankfully for us, there was still more drama to come, as Ballington struck twice in the first over after drinks to make it 103-9, leaving us one wicket away from an incredible win and promotion. Number 7, Imtiaz was all that stood between us and the 2nd XI Premier League and he managed to get a few boundaries away in a threatening 10th wicket partnership (including one off a very questionable free hit call) to pull them within 7 runs of the target.
However, in the 26th over, he made the mistake of taking a single early in the over and exposing Frenford's number 11 to strike bowler Pilgrim and it only took one ball for Johnny to take advantage. Bowling up the hill, he struck him on the back knee roll in front of middle stump and sparked the biggest of appeals, not only from all 11 players on the field, but everyone supporting Shenfield on the sidelines.
The umpire slowly raised his finger and wild celebrations ensued to complete an incredible Shenfield win and confirm promotion.
It was a brilliant team effort to find a way to win such a low scoring thriller. But the main man was undoubtedly Johnny Pilgrim, who finished with his best ever Shenfield figures of 8.3 overs 5-18.
Congratulations to both teams on a brilliant season. Bring on 2027.
You can watch the live streams and winning moments from both games below:
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