On the evidence of this opening match it's going to be a long season for the bowlers at Billericay's Blunts Wall Road Ground as 557 runs were clocked up for the loss of just 12 wickets.

The visitors were soon on top as Minor Counties player Steve Plumb set about building a big score and dominated the opening partnership of 48, which was broken upon the introduction of Andy Maxwell to the attack.

However, this only had the effect of bringing Giles Ecclestone to the crease and in partnership with Plumb started to take the attack to Billericay, to the extent that they were scoring at a rate of better than a run a minute.

Plumb reached his century before the lunch break from 157 balls. The runs continued to racked up after lunch with Plumb taking his score on to 136, 88 of which were scored in boundaries, before he was eventually run out.

Unusually, Ecclestone fell in exactly the same manner for him agonisingly just two runs short of a century.

His innings cover 98 minutes and he scored at better than a run a ball.

The declaration gave Billericay 55 overs to achieve the necessary runs at a rate in excess of five an over.

This looked unlikely as the first two wickets fell with just 10 on the board, however, Essex's Danny Law and Damian Brandy set about putting the innings on an even keel and looked in prime form as their partnership grew and passed the 100 mark.

Law reached his half century from 52 balls but had added just 16 more when he was dismissed.

Brandy also reached 50, but he departed shortly after Law and the victory looked a long way off. Danny Pryke then came to the fore with 65, made in his usual pugnacious style.

His half century was reached from just 42 balls, easily the quickest by anyone on the day and included seven boundaries.

Unfortunately for the home side, he was dismissed at the wrong time as the final push for victory was in course and momentum was paramount.

Barry De Goode (35) and Adam Samouelle (22 no) made valiant efforts to keep in touch with the asking rate but although Walden ended up bowling 57 overs the task was always that little bit too tall.

A creditable 10 points were gained in what was a fine example for the game of cricket at club level played over the longer format.

This Saturday the side travel to Wickford, who suffered a crushing defeat in their first match.

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