Stanford-Le-Hope Cricket Club

The Recreation Ground, Grove Road, Stanford-le-Hope, Thurrock, Essex, SS17 0ED; Clubhouse 01375 676000

SLHCC 1st XI get back to winning ways with a 20 point victory over Benfleet with Aussie Harry Maher grabbing 7-36 *** The 2nd XI just miss out on another 20 point victory after drawing with Old Brentwoods with Ian Sanderson striking 46 with the bat and claiming 4-33 with the ball *** The 3rd XI keep their promotion hopes going with a 8 wicket victory over Fives & Heronians with captain Geoff Lake hitting an unbeaten 67 *** A golden display with the bat saw Clive Ballard hit his first century for Stanford Le Hope with the 4th XI. Ballard ended up retiring Not Out on 130 but the mamouth knock was not enough victory over Hornchurch *** The Sunday XI win again this time over close rivals Thurrock with Robert Page hitting a half century **** DONT FORGET *** Super Sixes is this Sunday so make sure you come along for music, beer, BBQ and of course Cricket!!

Stanford le Hope CC – Match reports  5^th July 2008

1^st XI at home to Old Parkonians

Old Parkonians  198-8  (52 overs)                           Stanford  202-8  (46.3 overs)

Stanford’s Aussie import, Nathan Shearer (103no) steered the home team to a narrow victory, with an impressive century. A massive six, brought up his own personal milestone, his first ton for the club, as well as sealing the win. He shared half-century partnerships with Lee Knight (26) and skipper Michael Gray (28), following the loss of three quick wickets but found himself playing a lone hand as Rootes, Mann and Gordon picked up regular victims for Old Parks. Old hand Duncan Page (12no) joined the fray with only two wickets remaining and 45 runs to collect, with the visitors fancying their chances, but some astute shots and hard running earned a hard-fought win.

The Old Parks innings was solid at the top. 4 of the top 5 made decent scores, led by Robbins (60), Rootes (47) and Curtis (41). However, Ross Poulton (5-61) and Lee Knight (3-96) kept plugging away, bowling 39 overs between them. No other batsman made double figures as the Old Boys vainly tried to reach the 200 mark.

Stanford  18 points                          Old Parkonians  9 points

2^nd XI at Old Parkonians

Stanford II   222-9  (52 overs)                 Old Parkonians II  226-4 

In the reverse 2^nd team fixture, there was a reversed result. Stanford, batting first, did well to total over the 200 mark, given that the side was padded out with two 3^rd and four regular 4^th teamers. The top seven all registered double figure scores, with Andy Powley (72) and Dean Hitchcock (50), leading the way. Mookesh (5-58) was the home team’s most successful bowler.

 Shorn of all but one of their regular bowlers, there was little that Stanford could do to halt the inevitable Old Parks progression to a win. Matt Hasler (1-27) struck early, but this brought Khan (126no) to the crease. He shared a big century partnership with Yusuf (69) for the second wicket, as he batted superbly and despite a couple of late wickets from Powley (2-28), powered his team to a 6 wicket win.

Stanford II  9 points                          Old Parkonians II  18 points

3^rd XI at home to South Woodford 4^th

Stanford III   108ao  (28.2 overs)               South Woodford IV  109-2 (30.5 overs)

Calls from higher sides meant that skipper Geoff Lake had to field five regular 4ths players and his team just could not bridge the gap in class. Stuart Surridge (33) and Dennis Wheatley (18) were Stanford’s only double figure scores as they crashed to the bowling of Evans (4-37), Carvell (3-16) and Smith (2-33).

With an immense amount of time in hand, South Woodford were in no hurry, as Stanford battled hard but in vain to contain the scoring. Laura Knight bowled an exemplary 11 overs for only 18 runs and Charlie Gleisinger and Wheatley both picked up a wicket, but Little (40no) saw his team to a comfortable 8 wicket win.

Essex Sunday League 6th of July 2008

Westcliff on Sea 174 all out (39 overs) 178-6 (31 overs)

Stanfords Sunday XI bounced back from last weeks disappointing defeat with a resounding win against westcliff
Having won the toss stanford skipper lee knight elected to bowl in what seemed to be bowler friendly conditions however westcliff openers Johnson (67) & Harrison (60) found life pretty easy at the top of the innings as they quickly put on 125 for the 1st wicket, aided by the quick rec outfield and at times wayward bowling westcliff looked on track to post a huge total, although what followed next was not in the script as they lost both well set openers within 2 overs of each other as Knight (3-40) and Poulton (1-34) turned the game back in stanfords favour, the returning James Drain picked up 2 wickets in 2 balls which left the visitors reeling at 159-7 and with colts Adam Knight (2-6) & Matt Higgins (2-12) mopping up the tail in quick succession westcliff were soon all out for 174.

Stanfords reply started shakily losing Ian Sanderson in the 4th over for 0 thankfully for stanford though the rest of the run chase was fairly straightforward as Andy Powley (46) & Sean Barker (40) knuckled down and added 64 for the 2nd wicket Aussie Nathan Shearer then came to the crease fresh from his century the previous day and crashed the ball to all parts, With the win in sight westcliff picked up a couple of quick wickets as the stanford batsmen attempted some flamboyant strokeplay unfortunately for stanfords own KP ross poulton it didnt pay off this time as his well connected switch hit went straight into the hands of the fielder on the boundary, Shearer hit the winning runs a couple of overs later to finish 67 not out and seal a 4 wicket win.Stanford 18 points, Westcliff on Sea 4 points.