Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Seniors

Two Counties Over 70s v East Anglian Ladies

40 – over match played at Copford CC on Wednesday, 23rd June 2021

East Anglian Ladies 93 all out (Di. de Alwis 35, Ray Black 3-6)

Two Counties 70+ 94 for 1 (Mike Thew 30*, Ricky Ratford 30*, Sam Shaw 1-25)

Two Counties 70+ won by 9 wickets

The Two Counties Over 70s won the toss and elected to field. The batting side reached a total of 93 all out in the 28th over, but it was decided that both teams should bat the full 40 overs to involve more players in the game. This resulted in a final run total of 127.

In reply, the Two Counties side reached the required number of runs in the 23rd over, but, with the match won, continued to bat to reach a final score of 200 for 2 at close of play. It had also been decided that the Two Counties batsmen should retire not out once they had reached a personal score of 30 runs and four batsmen (Mike Thew, Ricky Ratford, Jerry Hadcock and John Stuck) duly did so.

Special thanks are due to Copford Cricket Club for hosting us, to Lawrence for managing to produce an excellent wicket, in spite of earlier adverse weather conditions, and of course to Sue for yet again providing a superb tea for us all.  Thanks are also due to everyone involved for making it an enjoyable day.

Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Over 60s v Chelmer Veterans

Played at Copford CC Wednesday 16 June 2021

Chelmer Veterans 239 for 3 (Richard Cory 79, Les Gray 52, Bill Lovatt 43*, Andrew Gallant 2-51)

Two Counties Over 60s 218 for 6 (Alan Sims 51, J Wedge 39, Alan Porter 3-40, David Griffiths 2-28)

Chelmer Veterans won by 21 runs.

On a sweltering day at the delightful Copford ground the Chelmer Veterans captain won the toss and, not unreasonably, chose to bat.  The match started at 11.30am and was shortened to 40 overs per side.  Drinks were taken every 12 overs, which was a great relief.

The opening batsmen, Richard Cory and Les Gray, scored quickly on the excellent batting track and quick outfield.  However, the Two Counties bowlers stuck to their task and with some good fielding restricted Chelmer to 6 runs per over.  Andy Mills bowler a tight spell, but thinking back to unlimited cricket, was disappointed to have to come off after his eight over spell was completed.  Ian Robinson was also bowling well until he pulled a fetlock and had to retire, out of the very hot sun !!!!  Jerry Wedge stepped up in his place and bowled well for his first bowl of the year.  The opening bowlers, Trevor Money and Andrew Gallant returned at the end and restricted the scoring rate.

The Two Counties started well with Alan Sims scoring quickly.  There was a reduction in the scoring rate in the middle section of the innings but with some impetus added towards the end.  However, the two Counties Seniors finished some 21 runs short, in what was a most enjoyable game.

Thanks are due again to Copford for hosting the game and to Sue and Lawrence for the excellent hospitality and pitch.

Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Over 70s v Hockerill Veterans

Time game played at Copford on 9th June 2021

Hockerill Veterans 154-1 dec (Graham Mackay 55*, Ash Waheed 85*, Bruce Tompkins 1-37)
Two Counties Over 70s 125-4 (John Stuck 64*, Chris Leftwich 46, Tony Woodington 2-42, Jim Francis 2-21)
Result: Match drawn

In a match constrained by the training requirements of the host club, it was agreed that an old-fashioned time game be played. Each team had 1 hour 45 minutes to bat, with a win, a loss or draw result possible. The Hockerill Vets captain won the toss and elected to bat on an excellent batting surface. None of the batsmen looked in any trouble as a score of 154 – 1 was achieved in the allotted time. The Two Counties opening pair of John Stuck and Chris Leftwich made quick progress until the 15th over, when Leftwich fell just 2 runs short of his fifty. Tight bowling by Tony Woodington and Jim Francis slowed the Two Counties’ progress, which gradually fell behind the clock, leaving the batting side 30 runs short of the target at close of play.

Grateful thanks are due to, firstly, Copford Cricket Club who hosted us at short notice, secondly to Sue for yet again providing teas of her usual exceptional standard, and thirdly, to Lawrence for providing an excellent wicket which was appreciated by all the players.

Wednesday 9 th June 2021
Halstead Seniors v Two Counties Over 50s
Halstead Seniors won by 3 wickets
Two Countries Over 50s 251 for 4 (Andrew Gallant 95*, Simon Sargent 41*)
Halstead Seniors 253 for 7 (David Rawlinson 75, Justin Rose 70*, Mark Johnson 48 *)

In the continuing warm (hot?) weather, and a day that was largely cloudless and breezeless,
Halstead Cricket Club welcomed the Two Counties Over 50s team, Halstead were asked to field. It
was not until late in the innings that those present managed to get the main scoreboard working,
and as a result, a small, hand-operated one was used, which meant that the scorer was enabled to
annoy all those within earshot by shouting out the score at the end of each over.
Captain Pat Patel and Phil Tompkins started competently against Colin Jones and Mark Johnson, with
Tompkins the more adventurous in an opening partnership of 52, before presenting a catch off the
latter’s bowling. Johnson then proceeded to claim another scalp next ball, bringing in Andrew
Gallant, who batted through to the end of the allotted 45 overs, ending unbeaten on 95, which
included some very aesthetically pleasing cover drives. For the last third of the innings, he was
accompanied by Simon Sargent, finishing not out on 41, and at its close the innings had realised 251
runs.
Chris Hills and Ken Greenaway each struck in the early overs when Halstead replied, but David
Rawlinson and Neale Dakin steadied the ship with a half-century partnership, and despite the later
loss of a further two cheap wickets, 70s from Rawlinson and Justin Rose, together with a not out 48
from Mark Johnson were enough to see the hosts reach their target with 4 balls to spare.
Overall a most enjoyable and close game at the picturesque Halstead ground where The Two
Counties Seniors are always made most welcome and there is always a group of enthusiastic
spectators.

Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Over 60s v Surrey Over 60s – Wednesday 2^nd June 2021

Surrey Over 60 220/4 (Mark Redfern 101*, Dvaid Taylor 57)

Two Counties Over 60 209/7 (Jerry Wedge 51, Richard Polley 39)

Surrey Over 60 won by 11 runs

The main square at Ipswich’s Clay Hall ground provided the venue for this match, as the weather changed for the better, and warmer, and on winning the toss, the visitors not unreasonably chose to bat first, with the openers passing 50 before Martin Southwell beat Graham Thornton’s bat. Peter Taylor neared his personal half-century, before hitting a catch, neatly taken by Chris Martin. Simon Gray, after confirming to your correspondent the spelling of his name, failed to reach double figures, but then Mark Redfern, running like a man half his age, dominated stands with Paul de Alwish and Peter reaching his 100 in the 45^th and final over of the innings. The four wickets that fell were spread around, with no bowler taking more than one, although Martin Southwell’s 9 overs cost only a niggardly 16 runs.

After self-supplied teas, the Two Counties eleven started their reply, the opening partnership lasting for nearly the first quarter of the innings, and after captain Richard Polley retired hurt, after a heavy knock on his heel, John Gallant and Jerry Wedge doubled the score, before the former was run out. The next three wickets, including the returning Richard Polley, fell relatively cheaply, with Jerry Wedge just making his half-century before departing two balls later. The Surrey fielders seemed to be well placed, as, although there were innumerable singles (well they are numerable, I cannot be bothered to count them) there were only two further boundaries scored, and the hosts fell eleven runs short of their visitor’s 220 runs.

Thank you to the scorers and umpires and to Ipswich CC for hosting the enjoyable game and also to Surrey for the post match presentations.

Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Over 50/60/70 Cricket

Hockerill Veterans v Two Counties Over 60s – 35 over game

Wednesday 26^th May 2021 at Hockerill Sports and Social Club

Two Counties Over 60s 130 for 8 (Andrew Gallant 42, Richard Polley 20*, Peter Francis 2-8,  Robert Locke 2-13, David Singer 2-29)

Hockerill Veterans 80 for 7 (Simon Sargent 3-19, Martin Southwell 2-2)

Two County Seniors won by 50 runs

In a week when most cricket was cancelled because of rain, Hockerill worked extremely hard to ensure that this game would take place.  All of the Two Counties Seniors were very appreciative of their efforts.

With the damp conditions it was always going to be a game which favoured bowlers.  In the Two Counties innings only Andrew Gallant with 42 and Richard Polley 20 not out, batted with any permanence, although there were useful contributions from Chris Martin and Simon Sargent.  The innings closed at 130 for 8 after the allotted 35 overs.

This was not in itself a match winning score but it would depend on the bowling and fielding.  With the first ball almost coming to the attention of the Air Traffic Controllers at nearby Stansted Airport there was an element of concern from the Two Counties captain.  However, the opening bowlers Ken Greenaway and Martin Southwell settled into their rhythms bowling a very tight line and length such that the score was 12 for 2 after their 14 overs.

The replacement bowlers, Richard Polley and Simon Sargent also gave very few run scoring opportunities, Simon finishing his spell with 3 wickets for 19 runs.  Andrew and John Gallant came on for the remaining overs and continued the good work such that the innings closed on 80 for 8 leaving The Two Counties Seniors victorious.  All of the bowlers were supported by some excellent fielding.

There was no man of the match award due to the virus restrictions but if there had been one, Simon Sargent would have awarded it to himself.

It was an enjoyable afternoon’s cricket played in the right spirit by everyone.