Two Counties over 70s v Surrey Seniors Touring team – 40-overs match played at Stowmarket CC on 11th August 2021
Surrey Seniors 202-4 (Greenwood-Hone 50 ret n/o, Montgomery 43, Withams 2-28)
Two Counties 188-7 (Stuck 51 rtd n/o, Hayward 46, Greenwood-Hone 3-30)
Result: Surrey Seniors won by 14 runs
Surrey Seniors elected to bat on an excellent batting surface and made good early progress. The run-rate slowed a little in the middle section of the innings, but the last 10 overs yielded 74 runs to set a target of 203 to win. As this was a touring match, it had been agreed that batsmen would retire not out on reaching 50, which John Stuck duly accomplished. Thereafter, the run-rate never caught up with that which was required and the Two Counties finished 15 runs sort of victory.
Our thanks are due to Clive at Stowmarket CC for an excellent wicket and for pulling in the boundary rope on a rather large cricket field.
Two Counties Over 70s vs East Anglian Veteran Ladies 40 over match played at Elmstead Market on Tuesday, 27th July
Two Counties 213 – 5 (J. Stuck 87 n/o, A. Highfield 43, M. Kelland 1-24)
E.A.V.L. 214-0 (K. White 105 n/o, E. Honey 102 n/o, C. Withams 0-40)
Result: E.A.V.L. won by 10 wickets
The Ladies’ captain won the toss and elected to field. The Two Counties made good progress, built around a quality innings from John Stuck, who ended up with a score of 87 not out. Other batsmen all contributed to the total of 213, in particular Chris Martin with a quick-fire 32 and Allan Highfield with an almost as quick-fire 43.
In reply, the Ladies’ openers had little trouble posed by the bowlers and they both scored a century to pass the required total in just 32 overs. Although on the receiving end, the Two Counties could not help but appreciate the quality of stroke-play from both batsmen, in particular that of White who plays at county level. The bowlers tried their best and mention must be made of Charley Withams, who was the most economical bowler, going for less than 6 runs per over.
Our thanks are due to Elmstead Market Cricket Club for kindly hosting our day.
Two Counties Over 70s v Billericay Veterans
35-over match played at Kelvedon CC 30th June 2021
Billericay Veterans 161 for 6 (Geoff. Willey 23, Alan. Jarrett 50*, Ray Black 3-45)
Two Counties 70+ 165 for 6 (John Stuck 86, Ricky Ratford 34, Paul Johns 3-45)
Two Counties 70+ won by 4 wickets
Having won the toss, Billericay elected to bat on a run-affected wicket and made steady progress, thanks to Geoff Willey and Alan Jarrett, to post a total of 161 from 35 overs at a rate of 4 runs per over. In reply, a typically commanding innings by John Stuck, with a useful contribution from Ricky Ratford, saw the target achieved in the 32nd over. Thanks were expressed to Kelvedon Cricket Club for hosting us, particularly to the Groundsman for producing a playable wicket after recent inclement weather.