Scorecard

Eight Ash Green Cricket Club Two Counties 2nd XI (Saturday) v Harwich & Dovercourt II on Sat 03 Aug 2024 at 1pm
Eight Ash Green Cricket Club Lost By 93 runs

Match report Confidence was high arriving at home Saturday to try and get revenge on Harwich who beat us narrowly at the beginning of the season.

A few changes from what has become a regular 2s core (happy birthday Dev), saw season debuts for long time youthful greenies H.Guneasaka, Spence and Plummer to make up strong looking 2s side.

As the Harwich team arrived the rain fell for the first time in a week of scorching heat, possibly a bad omen for the day to come.

Not heeding this warning from the universe, skipper Murray won the toss and as he had become acustom too called "bowl first" virtually as the coin was still in the air.

This seemed like a good option as opneres Licence (2-37) and Spence (0-42) had the ball on the string. Licence got the first wicket early with a huge inswinging yorker but the Harwich batsman then dug in. Spence controlled away swing well and Licence continued getting bounce and movement both ways, on another day they could have taken 5 each and we'd have been in the bar by 3pm. However, it was not to be, a couple of tough chances going down and a lot of balls ending in the middle of fielders meant that after 14 overs, when the bowling changes were made, Harwich were 70-1.

As Coppin started his spell, he was 3rd in the wicket takers for division 9 south this year, so seemed the perfect option to break this partnership. However, the Harwich batsman took a liking to his bowling and hit across the line effectively to take our most effective slow bowler out the game. (5 overs for 38).

At the other end Murray wasn't fairing much better, until after drinks where he picked up a big wicket. After softening up the in batsman with a full toss easily dispatched for 6, he obviously wasn't expecting the one that pitched as he was trapped next ball LBW for 76, a partnership of 120 broken, Harwich now 140-2. Confidence growing, the next over another wicket fell as the Harwich opener swung over a slower ball and it felt like momentum was changing.

Matt Norris (1-31) took up the mantel at the other end, and in a short spell including 0 wides, happy surprise for everyone after Mersea, he picked up an important wicket with a full yorker unplayable from the Harwich batsman. A little expensive but not through the fault of his own, more down to poor field settings, Murray refused to take blame and mercilessly hooked Norris and replaced him with Licence to try and blow away Harwich.

At the other end, A.Guneasaka (0-31) did his best to stop Harwich scoring but after the platform was set their middle order had free reign to attack and made the most of it.

A little success did come at the end as Licence once again bowled a tight second spell and Coppin picked up his mandatory 2 wickets from the other end after a sharp piece of glove work by H.Guneasaka and a catch by Licence. This all meant Harwich got to 251-7 from their 40 overs.

An intimidating total, but on a pitch that was "par 200" not unchaseable.

We began our chase and soon relaised that the swing Licence had got earlier was equally well matched by the Harwich opening bowlers. As pressure built this caused Polley to fall early trying to hit a full toss for 4 and missing it, leaving us 8-1. Axon then fell shortly after after a huge inswinger from the Harwich opener clipped his off stump.

This brought Norris to the crease to join H.Guneasaka. A solid partnership took us to 67-2 at drinks. Still a long way to go.

This 180 needed brought inspiration from the hundred but the more cavalier approach claimed the wicket of H.Guneasaka (37) and Norris (32) by the 25th over. These wickets brought in the in form Murray who stuck around too long for a disappointing 11 and Plummer for his season debut.

After Murray departed, Plummer wad joined by S.Collins (1) and Coppin (0) who departed cheaply. This brought in Ollie with a Licence to thrill (sorry), however unlike the bond film this only lasted about 10 minutes and didn't include many shots, as he chopped onto his own stumps for 7.

Spence then walked to the crease, with limited overs left he looked very controlled in his defence and played a lovely cover drive for 7*. At the other end Plummer had stopped building his innings and started attacking. An innings that started off with singles ended with 5 4s in a row, taking the team over the 150 mark for another bonus point. As the balls ticked by sadly, this left Plummer 42 not out at the end, agonisingly just 8 short of a first 50 but a great knock non the less.

We finished on 158-8, 93 short of the target.

Not the result we wanted but lots of postives can be taken from this match as we have a friendly next week, followed by Abberton in 2 weeks only 1 spot above us in the table.

POTM - was a close run thing,
Shout outs to Plummer for his 42, Norris 32 and wicket, Spence his bowling spell and H.Guneasaka for his keeping and 37 who all had highlights.

But the POTM is Ollie Licence 11-1-37-2 in a sub-par bowling display from a normally strong bowling attack his figures stood out.

Eight Ash Green Cricket Club Two Counties 2nd XI (Saturday) Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
4nb 10w 3b 3lb 
for 8 wickets
20
158		        
Richard Polley b O Bennett 2
Hansana Gunasekera b N Sharma 37 1
Jack Axon b S Fox 1
Matt Norris ct G Lovett b N Sharma 30
Matt Murray ct T Gillman b N Sharma 11
James Plummer Not Out  42
Sam Collins ct S Harrington b D Digby 1
Ollie Licence b D Digby 7 1
Luke Coppin ct O Bennett b S Fox 0
Oscar Spence Not Out  7
Ajula Gunasekera  

Harwich & Dovercourt II Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Shaun Fox9.0236218.004.00
Oliver Bennett4.0017117.004.25
Thomas Gillman4.001700.004.25
Paul Grubb4.011700.004.25
Sean Harrington5.001800.003.60
Nikhil Sharma7.002538.333.57
David Digby5.011326.502.60
Nev Mathur2.00900.004.50

Harwich & Dovercourt II Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
6nb 16w 2b 3lb 
for 7 wickets
27
251 (40.0 overs)		     
Thomas Gillman b O Licence 8
Nev Mathur b M Murray 46
Nikhil Sharma lbw M Murray 71
Alan Double st H Gunasekera b L Coppin 57
Shaun Fox b M Norris 8
Paul Grubb b O Licence 8
Oliver Bennett ct O Licence b L Coppin 23
David Digby Not Out  3
George Lovett Not Out  0
Ruben Tricker  
Sean Harrington  

Eight Ash Green Cricket Club Two Counties 2nd XI (Saturday) Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Ollie Licence11.0148224.004.36
Oscar Spence7.003200.004.57
Luke Coppin7.0057228.508.14
Matt Murray9.0147223.505.22
Matt Norris3.0031131.0010.33
Ajula Gunasekera3.003100.0010.33