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Second Team

Second Team

Craig Messenger14 Nov 2017 - 12:24
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Captain Report

Lewis Aldred
2nd XI
We started off our season very slowly with three friendly loses against Broxbourne , our 3rdXI and Buckhurst Hill, with the team looking very rusty from the winter break. Our last friendly was against Wickford a team we new we would be facing later in the season once the league started. We came out victorious bowling them out cheaply and knocking off the runs for lose of one wicket. This win gave us confidence going into the new season.
The first half of the season went very well for us taking five wins from opening nine fixtures with a draw and three defeats. Wins against Hutton, Wickford, Old Souths, Hadleigh and Southend. Southend being my favourite as I only had ten players. Our loses came against eventual champions Hornchurch who by far was the best team in the league and runners up Harold Wood. Our third lose was against Chingford, a game where some decisions where arguably questionable.
Onto second half of the season we were sitting third with eyes on promotion, but unfortunately our form took a dip and player availability became an issue. In our next six games we lost four and had two abandoned, going from looking at promotion to looking over our shoulder at relegation, not the best position to be in. With three games to play we new one win would see us safe.
The first of these games was against Old Souths, winning the toss we put them into bat on a wet wicket. This reaped rewards as we bowled them out for 95. Walking off the field at the halfway stage everyone thought victory was inevitable, but this was not to be as we was bowled out for 73, less said the better.
The following week we were away at Hadleigh, again bowling first we had them all out for 97. Everyone was determined not to let another win slip through our fingers like last week and duly won by 10 wickets.
Heading into the last game safe we new we could enjoy it against undefeated Hornchurch. Everyone was up for the game and wanted to end the season on a high. We bowled them out for 152 and knocked off the runs with seven wickets in hand.
Summing up the season, we achieved what we set up to do which was to maintain our 1st division status. Moving onto next season we look to improve and hope to challenge for promotion.
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