Belhus Cricket Club News Flash

Southend on Sea 1st XI 128 all out
Belhus 1st XI 132 for 5

Chris Baker led Belhus to a fine five-wicket victory over Southend in the east division of the Essex Invitation Sunday League at North Stifford. Baker walked to the crease in the sixteenth over and faced 54 deliveries in three minutes over the hour to score a studious undefeated 30 which included one six and and one four. For much of his innings he was accompanied by Michael Cansdale in a fourth wicket partnership of 54. The pairing was ended when Ricky Graves bowled Cansdale for 38, with the scoreboard showing 111. Opening batsman Richard Day started the initial push for victory with 18, when he was caught by Russell Shepherd at mid-off from the bowling of James Gilroy.

Earlier in the day, Ian Harvard generated a huge amount amount of swing and yorked Southend opener Mark Humby with a virtually unplayable delivery. Harvard finished his maximum permitted eight overs, three of which were maidens, by conceding just ten runs. Harvard also removed Humby's opening partner Numan Khan for 15, brilliantly caught by wicketkeeper Michael Fogg, diving to take a leg side catch off the glove. This was a crucial wicket, given that Khan scored a century in last season's meeting. First change bowler Ian Wright, replacing the impressive Billy Winter at the Chafford end, turned the screw still further by removing the rest of the upper Southend order, bowling Stuart Trivett, having Shepherd caught behind and then Andy Callaway became Wright's third and final victim when George Brooks held on to a fierce drive. These three batsmen contributed no more than ten runs between them and Belhus were then in a strong position as Southend were 47 for 5 after nineteen overs as Wright finished his spell with 3-21 which included one maiden.

Southend were able to rally through John Horne, 42, Connor Enderby, 20 and James Gilroy 13, but the visitors were eventually dismissed with just two balls of the final over remaining when Eamonn Kearney was stumped by Fogg off Brian Edwards. Cliff Cansdale and Edwards claimed two wickets each, finishing on 2-23 and 2-11 respectively.