As we approach the peak of summer, the Cricket Club continues to make progress both on and off the pitch.
Saturday XI
At the exact halfway point of the league season, the Saturday XI find themselves unbeaten and top of their division.
The month of May brought about three very convincing victories against Saxmundham, Ipscol and Mistley.
Returning veteran seam bowler, Wes Barton, helped bowl Saxmundham out for 69 with three wickets of his own before the runs were knocked off by the ever-reliable French/ English axis (Colin & Alfie). The league-leaders at the time, Ipscol, were similarly dealt with, being dismissed for 130; Rowan Hunt and Alfie with three wickets apiece before Colin and Alfie obtained a couple of half centuries.
A trip to Mistley followed, with 50s from Alfie and Rowan, backed up by a solid partnership between skipper Jack French (49*) and “evergreen” Craig Finbow (47*), putting 270 on the board. This was never threatened by the opposition as young seamers, Oscar Finbow and Zahid Momand, took three wickets each, resulting in a victory by 154 runs.
June yielded another three wins; Eight Ash Green, Coggeshall and Stowmarket.
Firstly, EAG were bowled out for 95 with another three wickets for Zahid, plus three for Captain Jack. The steady hand of Colin French seeing us home.
This was followed by a victory away to Coggeshall. Oscar and Rowan with another three wickets each before a very sensible batting display in changeable weather conditions from Giles Scrutton (24), Oscar (41), Rowan (70*) and Tom Savage (33*) saw Brightlingsea move to the top of the league.
The final match of the first half of the season was a nine wicket win over Stowmarket. Tom Savage with six wickets and Alfie chipping in with three, saw our opponents reach 61 all out. Giles (31*) and Ollie Hill (30) knocking off the runs with more than 35 overs to spare.
As we start to play our opponents for the second time, the Saturday team will look to ensure that they remain at the top of the league as the holiday season hits.
Sunday XI
The Sunday XI have played a combination of league matches and friendlies, bringing together a mixture of youth and experience to provide senior cricket to as many players as possible.
In our league games, there was a record-breaking match at Coggeshall. We believe 14yr old Oscar Finbow became the Club’s youngest ever senior centurion, scoring 108 not out in the first innings. Wickets were then shared, Parvais Ahmadzai and Jenson Cook with two each.
A close match against West Bergholt followed, despite our opponents being dismissed for 80 (Stacey Plummer with three wickets). The experience of Richard Hunt saw us over the line, ably assisted by youngster Alex Hill. A three wicket win being closer than we’d have wanted.
Our Sunday friendly fixtures have resulted in wins and losses but (more importantly), more encouraging performances, most notably 108 from Rowan at Dedham and a further 94 runs for Oscar against Gt Bromley.
Junior Cricket
In our Junior Cricket sections we have seen some very promising performances. Our under 13 and under 11 hard ball teams are yet to win a game against some strong teams but there have been a number of excellent individual performances, not least the hat-trick achieved by Finley Grant in the under 13 match v Sudbury.
A Girls under 13 team represented the Club for the first time at a county competition and a number of these girls have also been playing regularly in our under 11 hard ball team. We have also seen the Club represented for the first time by a team from our Disability Section, which took part in a county competition at Springfield.
Our Kwik Cricketers have also been representing us in external Festivals at Tendring and West Mersea. In the latter event, 11 of our 12 players were girls, showing the real growth and development in this area.
Kwik Cricket on Friday evenings continue every Friday night throughout the summer, from 6pm. All children of all abilities are encouraged to come along. Families are welcome to enjoy the bar, with hot food also on sale.
Other news
Our net facilities have now been refurbished and are being fully-utilised throughout the week by all age groups and teams.
We also have a Vice Presidents’ Match on Saturday 16th July at the Recreation Ground in aid of the Pink Ribbon Foundation, with a smattering of ex-players returning for a friendly, sociable game of cricket. All spectators welcome. There is also the opportunity to become a VP of the Club.
All details, information and fixtures can be found on the Club’s website, brightlingseacricket.co.uk, as well as in the Club’s Fixture Handbook, copies of which can be found at shops around the town and at the Club itself.
The Club can be contacted via brightlingseacricketclub@gmail.com