HORNCHURCH...176-9 dec

CHELMSFORD II.......177-2

(Chelmsford won by eight wickets)

(Shepherd Neame Essex League Division One)

A true all-round team performance saw Chelmsford to only their second League win of the season as they built on the improvements of the previous week to outplay their hosts.

Hornchurch elected to bat on a wicket that looked like it would provide help to the bowlers, although the hot conditions were not ideal for bowling and fielding.

Chelmsford were immediately on top through controlled bowling from David Thrift and Alistair Fergus, who picked up his customary early wicket, and with excellent fielding from Thrift and Nigel Bond leading to two run outs, Hornchurch were in early trouble.

A fourth wicket partnership of 60 between Lofthouse (43) and Whitlock (57) frustrated Chelmsford for some time before Bond dismissed both batsmen.

The remaining batsmen found run scoring difficult against Matthew Poole (2-61 in 16 overs) and Bond (4-63 in 17 overs) who were backed by some good fielding, the highlight being an entertaining boundary catch by Dave Goddard.

The declaration came at 176 for nine from 52 overs and as they had bowled their overs quickly, Chelmsford knew they would have plenty of time to chase the runs.

Chelmsford's reply began solidly through Zishan Panjwani and Richard Carr.

With the former's dismissal, Thrift set about the bowling right from the start of his innings and the pressure on the fielding side grew and errors began to creep in.

Carr succumbed to the heat and retired ill for 44 with the score at 110, but this merely led to an increase in tempo as the new batsman, Nigel Walrond, demonstrated the powerful hitting for which he is becoming renowned.

Thrift was dismissed for an excellent 62 with victory in sight and Walrond (38no)and Dave Askew saw Chelmsford to victory with more than six overs to spare.

One point of note. How many other second eleven games this season (or indeed any other eleven) will see the aggregate age of the two wicketkeepers approaching 119?

That there were only 18 byes in total on a wicket of variable bounce is a testament to the two 'venerable' gentlemen concerned (Mike Vandome for Chelmsford and Langstone for Hornchurch).

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.