Herongate v Hornchurch Athletic Sunday 1st June
Posted by Gill Bell on 6 June 2014
Another bright sunny day saw 8 of the Victorians turn out for Herongate. The thoughts in everyone’s minds were – “Where is Bob O’Brien?”
Chris Hicks (skipper) lost the toss and was asked to field first. The bowling was opened with Timmy and Billy Hull. Hull bowled with his usual pace, but it was Timmy who took the early wicket of the Hornchurch opener who bottom edged a superbly taken catch to Alford behind the stumps. Feranhead was brought into the attack and, despite tidy bowling off of his 8 overs, took two wickets for 76 runs. Hicks, Robinson and Sach all had a go, but took just 3 wickets between them from 12 combined overs at a cost of 140 runs. Although wickets were falling regularly, the Hornchurch number 2 (who was dropped when in his 50’s) was playing shots with ease and finished on 198 not out at the end of the innings. Timmy was brought back on and promptly dismissed number 11. The pick of the bowlers was Timmy who finished with a very respectable 3 wickets for 37 runs off 4.3 overs. Hornchurch finished all out on 309.
Herongate opened their innings with Shane Surajbally and Richard Walford. Two in-form batsmen who have already amassed plenty of runs for the Victorian’s this season. But today wasn’t to be theirs. Surajbally was dismissed early for 1, and although Walford tried to stick around, was out soon after for 18. This brought Ben Sach to the crease who steadied the ship with patient shot selection. Sach’s biggest problem was at the other end, as the next four batsmen registered just 8 runs between them (3 of them ducks!). Things were looking dire. However, Hull came in at number 8 and produced another big score to add to his already impressive tally this year. Hull did not bother with singles until he was on 48 (9 4’s and 2 6’s). This is just what Sach needed who was also hitting 4’s and 6’s to all parts of the ground. Hull was out for 64 (the 7th batsman to be caught in the Herongate innings). Alford was in next, who decided that it was better to hold up an end and let Sach carry on scoring. Things were getting tight as Herongate were running out of overs but Sach continued to hit big, including 3 consecutive 6’s, and eventually saw Herongate over the line with 3 balls to spare. Alford did his bit ending on 16 not out but the accolade must go to Sach who produced a match winning 168 not out.
Herongate won by 4 wickets.
