Freak of Nature

Heavy rainfall mid-afternoon heavily disrupted much of the cricket across Essex on Saturday but the Second XI game against Leigh-on-Sea was a somewhat freakish victim of the rules of the competition. With Leigh needing points in their battle to avoid relegation and C&EE keen to wrap up promotion both sides were reluctant to offer too much.

Having won the toss based on Friday's clear weather forecast skipper, Gilly, asked Leigh to bat first. Armed with an up to date forecast we could have elected to bat with more control over the destiny of the game.

Leigh were 66-3 after 22 overs when the rain came and play did not resume until 4:50pm. Scrasey collected two more victims caught behind and Vijai took a simple catch at short cover off Gibbsy. On resumption Leigh clearly didn't feel confident to reach 150 and went on the defensive, Kieran Savill and Gibbsy beat the bat time and again but could only add one more wicket despite attempting a variety of deliveries including one "left arm around" that grubbed and nearly bowled the stuborn #3.

Although we were able to bowl the remaining 30 overs in little over an hour and 10 minutes this did not leave enough time for us to receive 25 overs in reply and therefore the game was dead and according to the rules of the competition abandoned.

A frustrating day for all involved on both sides. However results (or rather lack of results) elsewhere mean that the Second XI is definitely promoted to the Premier Division for next season as we lead Hadleigh in third place by 42 points. The title is now almost certain to be decided in the final game against second placed Hornchurch on the last day.