Scorecard

Eight Ash Green Cricket Club Two Counties 1st XI (Saturday) v East Bergholt II on Sat 20 Aug 2022 at 12.30pm
Eight Ash Green Cricket Club Won by 74 runs

Match report The Green eased to a 74 run win over lowly East Bergholt in a somewhat low-key affair at Fordham Heath, avenging a three-wicket defeat in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.
Just for a change, Steve Nunn lost the toss and we were inserted, a decision that looked well justified when we lost both openers cheaply during an excellent spell from Bergholt bowler Smith - Deepak Rajpal snicked a good ball, while Stuart Hammond was adjudged leg before (we'll say no more about that, other than without the benefit of ball tracking, who ever thinks they have been caught in front of the stumps?). At 21-2 it needed Joe Young and Will Spicer to steady the ship, although the latter's attacking intent was clear from the start as he struck two imperious maximums before missing a straight one when on 30. Joe was joined by Ollie Stovell, but they found limited opportunities to really push-on at the kind of scoring rate we have come to expect at the Heath this season. Joe's first attempt of the day at jug avoidance came when he had reached 47, while Ollie made 42 before he pulled a short ball into the hands of a grateful fielder to end a knock that was certainly less fluent that his last effort on the Heath, but as with the other contributions down the card, it was no less valuable in helping the Green to set a challenging target. Ali Hammond had some welcome time in the middle making 22, having walked out to the wicket under a dark cloud that temporarily dampened the mood, then for once skipper Steve was unable to provide impetus to the innings as he skied a catch to mid-on. In came Ollie Mewis with the freedom to have a go and that's just what he did - Ollie bludgeoned 45 from only 35 balls to help us reach 242-8. The total felt defendable, but perhaps not an insurmountable target if Bergholt batted well.
Fortunately for us, Bergholt struggled to keep up with the required rate, as they also lost two early wickets, both to Calum McDonald in another excellent opening spell. His partner coming up the hill was, rather unusually, Ollie S, opening the bowling probably for the first time in senior cricket - fair play on Steve for his imaginative decision and whilst it didn't produce any wickets, runs didn't flow at any great speed either. Steve replaced Ollie and produced another tight spell and although the third-wicket partnership reached 106, the asking rate was such that a Bergholt victory looked to be extremely unlikely. Once the attempt to up the rate came, Joe in particular took advantage, claiming 4-53 as they slumped from 129-2 to 168 all out in a little under a dozen overs. The other wicket takers were Stuart (2-10, one of which came from a stumping for a delighted/relieved Ollie Licence) and Will (2-1), the latter signing-off his season with two wickets in four balls, much to the amusement of his teammates.
Our margin of victory was thus a convincing 74 runs, and arguably a win that rarely looked in doubt during the second innings. A good day for all that ensures the Green will be playing in Division 4 next season.

Eight Ash Green Cricket Club Two Counties 1st XI (Saturday) Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 7w 2b 11lb 
for 8 wickets
22
242		        
Deepak Rajpal ct R Smyth b N Smith 8 10 2 80.0 1
Stuart Hammond lbw N Smith 5 17 1 29.41
Joe Young b C Peal-Shankar 47 68 8 69.12 1
Will Spicer b D Hunter 30 34 2 2 88.24 1
Ollie Stovell ct C Peal-Shankar b L Chenery 42 55 4 76.36
Alastair Hammond b C Peal-Shankar 22 26 3 84.62
Steve Nunn ct C Peal-Shankar b C Claffey 4 4 100
Oliver Mewis ct B Burdon b B Burdon 45 35 8 128.57 1
Jens Wair Not Out  15 21 71.43
Calum McDonald Not Out  2 2 100
Ollie Licence   1

East Bergholt II Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Nathan Smith7.021929.502.71
Blake Burdon9.0052152.005.78
Callum Peal-Shankar12.0068234.005.67
Duncan Hunter8.0028128.003.50
Charlie Claffey4.0027127.006.75
Leighton Chenery5.0035135.007.00

East Bergholt II Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 1w 1b 1lb 
for 10 wickets
5
168 (43.4 overs)		     
Rob Smyth b C McDonald 1 7 14.29
Will Harris ct W Spicer b J Young 87 115 8 75.65
Alfie Foster ct J Young b C McDonald 10 13 2 76.92
Edward Goodchild b J Young 50 89 9 56.18
Duncan Hunter b J Young 6 6 1 100
Ben Bibby ct O Mewis b S Hammond 3 5 60.0
Blake Burdon st O Licence b S Hammond 3 7 42.86
Nathan Smith b J Young 1 8 12.50
Leighton Chenery b W Spicer 1 7 14.29
Callum Peal-Shankar Not Out  1 4 25.00
Charlie Claffey ct D Rajpal b W Spicer 0 3 0

Eight Ash Green Cricket Club Two Counties 1st XI (Saturday) Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Calum McDonald10.0033216.503.30
Ollie Stovell6.002700.004.50
Steve Nunn7.002300.003.29
Joe Young12.0053413.254.42
Jens Wair3.001900.006.33
Stuart Hammond4.001025.002.50
Will Spicer1.40120.500.60