Chesterfords on High after making top spot

Chesterfords beat the rain and High Beach on Saturday at the Rec to move into top spot in the Ten17 Herts and Essex League Division Two.

Vice captain Wazz Mughal was delighted with the side's performance. "The league is incredibly close at the top, so with the adverse weather across the county I knew that if we got the opportunity to play then we would have to make the most of it.

"It was an excellent all round team performance, the top order of the batting line-up all came off, and once we had put 240 on the board, it put us in a commanding position. Despite the fact that the weather was not ideal, the fielders kept their heads up and the bowlers stuck to the task in hand.

"I was proud of everyone wearing a Chesterfords shirt and obviously delighted with the win that has taken us top of the league."

Batting first, the opening combination of David Lightning and Piers Robson got Chesterfords off to a good start.

Lightning was solid, whilst Robson was typically aggressive as he raced his way to 18. James Pullen replaced Robson at the crease, and continued in the same vain hitting 36.

Some good bowling from Joseph for High Beach saw Lightning caught behind for 32, and David Perring caught for one.

Mughal came to the crease following the departure of Pullen for 36, and he made a quick fire 31.

With the score at 127-5 and only 10 overs remaining, Paul Phillips and Tim Lewis took the executive decision to bat in a manner more familiar with twenty20 cricket.

Lewis thumped his way to 34 and Phillips followed suit with an unbeaten 58, as Chesterfords put on 240-6 from their 45 overs.

Chesterfords put early pressure on with the ball. Alan Stokley bowled an economical 10 overs, having only been hit for 26, and was supported by Mughal who bowled seven overs taking 3-24.

The key wicket was that of M Bear averaging 85 this season, Bear was undone by a spectacular catch by wicket keeper Greg Watson of Mughal's bowling for 16.

High Beach, playing for bonus points, managed to get to 169-9 from their 45 overs, with Steve Squares and David Lighting each taking two wickets as miraculously the rain held off for the full 90 overs, allowing Chesterfords to win by 71 runs.

Chesterfords Sunday side secured a comfortable 106 run victory over Jesus College from Cambridge at the weekend.

Chesterfords were put into bat on a wet green wicket and got off to a good start with openers Paul Phillips (118) and Liam Woodcock (13), putting on 82 for the

first wicket.

Woodcock was the first to be dismissed which brought Charles Gjersten (27), to join Phillips at the crease. Both batsmen continued to score quickly, adding a quick fire 90 partnership that propelled the score onto 180 off 30 overs.

Gjersten was well bowled which left captain Phillips still batting and finally reaching his maiden century for the club in the 33rd over. Eventually Phillips was bowled for 118 and the remaining batsmen had a mini collapse losing seven wickets in the last five overs, which left Chesterfords an impressive final score of 226.

Chesterfords took the field in confident fashion and the opening bowlers provided early wickets with probing aggressive spells from Tom Thake (1-21 off 9) and Mark Stokley ( 2-20 off 5).

Jesus College found themselves on 30-3 off 10 overs and with only Wilkinson providing any resistance with a well made 68. Chesterfords second, third and fourth change bowlers proved too good for the middle to lower order.

Walter Jackson (4-28 off 7) led the way with a master class display of off spin bowling and was well supported by Steve Tapping (1-29 off 7) and Leg Spinner Adam Laird ( 1-9 off 3).

Nick Dowrick (1 -15 off 3) finished the game off and along with some tidy fielding by Chesterfords, they never looked like losing the game, eventually bowling the visitors out for 120 in the 34th over.