TC 4 Rpts cont
25th July – Long Melford Vs Boxted – Boxted 128 all-out, Long Melford 133-2, Long Melford won by 8 wickets
Inserted on a very damp looking track from the overnight rain, the Boxted innings was soon in disarray at 27-5 with only acting skipper Ian Evans 13 managing double figures. Things did not really improve despite a bright 15 from Mike Pearce and at 47-7 an early finish looked on the cards. However Steve Philpott 41 not out and Paul Harris 28 dug deep and added 69 for the 8th wicket with a creditable show of defence and occasional aggression. A final total of 128 all-out in the 44th over had at least given us a small total to defend and 2 valuable bonus points.
Very unlucky not to claim a wicket caught behind off the first ball in reply, Boxted did make an early breakthrough in the 4th over when Michael Dell took a well judged catch off Paul Harris. With the wicket easing all the time the home side were happy to play shots at every opportunity and despite a tight spell from Evans 1-19 from 6, easily reached their target in only the 24th over to inflict a heavy 8 wicket defeat.
1st August – Boxted Vs Ipswich &ES – Boxted 236-4, Ipswich &ES 169-3, Match Abandoned
Having elected to bat, Boxted made steady if somewhat slower than normal progress through Steve Philpott 10 and Ian Evans 18 against an opening attack which exploited the hardness of the track and humid conditions. By the time drinks came and a 15 minute break for rain, Boxted were 73-2 from 23 overs. Despite the inclusion of a first team pace bowler Pat Gilbert and Rohan Khaira took the attack to the bowlers after the interruption mixing boundaries with good running (mostly) picking up plenty of 1’s and 2’s. With a first century for the club there for the taking Pat was out for a fine 94 having added 151 with Rohan who shortly followed for an equally fine 76, both having scored at about a run a ball. A final total of 236-4 was well above expectations at the half-way stage.
The visitors soon ripped into the home attack and stated at well above 6 an over as the skies started to look very threatening. Only Paul Harris offered any kind of control and he eventually took a couple of wickets both to catches by Chris Wilson. Matt Wilson offered some support to Harris as by the midpoint the run-rate slowed a little to below 6 an over. As the light got ever darker Harris claimed his 3rd wicket as Evans just held a skier. With the rain now starting to fall fairly heavily Harris finished his 15 overs with the creditable figures of 3-72 (would have been 4, but too much sponge cake meant he couldn’t jump). There was just time for Evans to eventually come on and bowl his first over in a downpour before the players left the field with the score at 169-3 off 32 overs, with the match abandoned.
8th August – Copford Vs Boxted – Copford 233 all-out, Boxted 162 all-out, Copford won by 71 runs
Asked to bowl with only 10 players against the division leaders on a baking hot day with a short boundary, Boxted made an encouraging start and soon had the home side 3 down, as Mike Booker with 2 wickets, one to a fantastic one handed catch by the recalled Sylvester McKnight and Paul Harris with a fine catch by Chris Wilson, got our hopes up on a wicket that offered some encouragement all day. However Copford re-grouped and added a further 126 before Mike Pearce’s first ball long-hop found its way into the hand of Ed Whybrow at long off for a good catch. Ian Evans was now into his 11 over spell and started to chip away to end with the good figures of 4-43, one to a fine boundary catch by Pearce. Runs were still coming, although Rohan Khaira took a wicket and eventually the returning Booker wrapped things up in the final over to finish with fine figures of 3-50, as Copford were dismissed for a gettable 233.
After a sumptuous tea Boxted made a disastrous start losing Pat Gilbert in the first over and Whybrow soon after. When Evans departed (at least he thought unluckily LBW!) we were 22-3. Hopes were soon raised though as Wilson 23 joined Khaira who made use of the short boundary hitting successive sixes. When the stand of 62 was broken it signalled the end of our hopes, and despite Khaira going on to a well constructed 77 only Pearce with 15 was able to reach double figures in support . In the end a defeat by 71 runs was harsh on the ten players who performed well on the day, but with results not going our way, it means next’s weeks match against Tuddenham is a must win game.
15th August – Boxted Vs Tuddenham – Boxted 267-9, Tuddenham 252-6, Boxted won by 15 runs
Winning the toss against the visitors with only 9, and then after the delaying tactics we eventually started nearly half an hour late. Ian Evans 68 and Chris Wilson 25 added 54 for the first wicket before Wilson was deceived by a rare pitch up delivery. Unfortunately the normally reliable power top order misfired and we soon in a spot of bother at 117-4. Evans though had quietly been going about his innings passing 50, but when he was out the innings was in the balance. Mike Pearce 68 though after an early let-off was soon into his stride and with Jon Wilson 17 added 50 for the 7th wicket taking us comfortably past the 200 mark. Matt Wilson then with a brisk unbeaten 29 and with some good running by the tail (and good use of the Michael Dell pad) took us to a final total of 267-9.
We soon claimed an early wicket as some poor running and smart fielding by Matt Wilson led to a run-out. A useful stand developed and the pattern for the innings was soon put in place as the ball through a series of miss-hits found gap after gap. Booker and Dell went wicket less and Matt Wilson (3-45) and Evans took over, with Matt soon making a breakthrough as Pat Gilbert held an easy chance behind the stumps. Tuddenham to their credit kept up a useful if slowing pace with a mixture of slogs and luck particularly off Evans who saw 5 possible chances go begging in the slip region, as well as several others in the outfield. Wilson though found a couple of fielders who could catch in Rohan Khaira and Evans, as eventually did Evans with Matty (one hand) Francis to lead us well on top. With 100 wanted off 11 the game should have been secured, but a mixture of laxness in the field and some big hitting kept Tuddenham very much in the hunt. It was not until Khaira (2-28) came on at the end to claim 2 wickets with good catches by Booker and the Matt Wilson that we were able to close out the match, and claim our first home Two Counties victory of the season, as well as a useful 18 points.
29th August – Boxted vs. Ipswich – Boxted 122 all-out, Ipswich 123-2, Ipswich won by 8 wickets
In a must win game, despite losing an early wicket Boxted made an encouraging start and reached 60-1 by the 12th over when the inform Pat Gilbert was dismissed for 30. Chris Wilson 34 and Rohan Khaira 14 took the score to 90, before a stunning collapse saw us slump to 100-9. Jon Wilson 8 and Matty Francis 10 not out pushed the score to a slightly less dismal 122 all-out.
Despite Gilbert in a quick opening spell claiming an early wicket, Boxted struggled to make further in roads, but at least made the visitors works for the runs as both Mike Booker 0-34 and Ian Evans 1-39 bowled economical 11 over spells, with the only other wicket falling LBW to Evans as the small target was reached for the loss of only 2 wickets in the 33rd over.
31st August – Boxted Vs Wivenhoe – Boxted 195-9, Wivenhoe 197-3, Wivenhoe won by 7 wickets
Boxted still with a slim chance of staying up were dismayed, but not surprised by the news that Wivenhoe had brought along six first team players. Choosing to bat Boxted lost a couple of wickets including Chris Wilson 19 in taking the score to 37-2. Pat Gilbert 26 and Rohan Khaira added a good 52 for the 3rd wicket as the bowling gradually got better and better. After Gilbert’s dismissal it was left to Khaira to manage the rest of the innings, whilst riding some luck he was able to pass 50 and 48 for the 5th wicket with Jon Wilson 6 and 45 for the 8th wicket with Tim Wright 4. Finally off the last ball of the innings he reached a thoroughly deserved century which had included 3 sixes.
With a strong Wivenhoe top order the runs came quickly despite a useful opening spell by Matt Wilson. The first breakthrough came at 70 when Evans smartly managed a run-out. Skipper Wilson rotated his bowling options and was finally rewarded when Matty Francis (2-19) using his experience picked up a couple of wickets both caught by Wilson. The winning runs meant that next season we will start in division 5 which hopefully will give all our players a chance to shine a bit more.
