Bayfield and Cook Set Up Midweek Win

An opening partnership 0f 99 between John Bayfield (41) and Chris Cook (71) paved the way for an 85 run victory in the midweek game against Great Burstead. Both batsmen batted with assurance and set the stage for The Trolley and Royston Smith but, unfortunately both failed with 3. Al Surrey (31 n.o.) and Alan Brett (19) increased the tempo enabling the Green to declare on 195 for 6.
Toast (3-17) and Royston Smith (1-4) each took a wicket in their opening over to set Great Burstead back. An unexpected bonus of a catch from The Trolley put the hosts further in trouble before Mick Barnard (4-28), managing to bowl slower than Pipey Harris) removed the middle order with the assistance of a magnificent catch by Alan Brett. With time running out, Chris Cook (2-4) finished the job with a couple of wickets.

 Feedback Problem Fixed

Those of you who have attempted to provide us with feedback may have been frustrated by the display of an error page when submitting your comments recently. We are grateful for any comments, which were getting through to us. This problem has now been fixed with our web hosts and we apologise for any inconvenience.

'B' Side Frustrated by Rain

The 'B' side were thwarted by the rain at Eastwood on Sunday. Set to score 225 for victory, the rain caused a premature end with the in-form Martin Cason 25 not out. Andrew Giles and Malcolm Waters batted well for 47 apiece and young Alex Cason made 27. earlier Matthew Simmons (2-23), Malcolm Waters (2-6) and Russell Savidge (2-37) bowled well in restricting the home side to 224 for 8.

Cloghams Bashed by the Rebel

Mick Clarke (82) proved the mainstay of the batting as the 2nd XI struggled to 161 for 7 in their 40 over game at Cloghams. On a slow surface, Clarke had respectable partnerships with both Chris Cook and James Lock who both batted weel but just failed to get into the twenties. All eyes were on a 3rd successive golden duck at the ground by Cockinson but groans greeted his opening defensive shot. He even managed to get the ball off the square to give the score a late boost before the rain. The home side seemed to be in control at 100 for 3 despite good catches by Zahid 'I can bat' Ahmed and James Lock before a heavy shower brought about a premature end.

Big Al Out of His Depth

Those who thought that Big Al Surrey might struggle in 1st XI company were vindicated on Saturday night. It was not, as you might expect, his cricketing exploits that led to his discomfort but a session with those drinking stalwarts Royston Smith, Jon Powell, Michael Freeman and Jumbo Jeffries. Big Al (pictured right being comforted by his caring companion - click thumbnail to see larger image) was suffering as he turned up for the 2nd XI game at Cloghams following his all night vigil outside the club.

PP Disappointed at Wacky Races

With Peter Perfect and Penelope Pitstop to the fore, it was surprising that the Green's own PP did not enjoy a profitable evening. Dave Brown seemed to be making a regular collection from Bookie Toast and also owned the winning snail defeating Cockinson's two entrants 'Keith' and 'Walmsley'. An enjoyable evening was concluded with a succession of frog races at which the Daws family seemed to excel. However the champion was Richie.

Jeffries and Clarke Keep 1st XI Top

Jon Powell blasted 70 from 37 balls to set the 1st XI on the road to an 8 wicket victory at home to Upminster on Saturday. Grant Apic97 not out. When Grant departed Jo Jayasuriya soon finished the job as Green reached their target of 210 with 18 overs to spare.
Earlier, such a comprehensive victory seemed out of the question as the Upminster openers compiled an opening stand of 137 on a good batting surface. Simon Jeffries broke the stand and soon afterwards removed Lorne Sprigg, who scored an excellent 104, to a good catch in the deep by Powell. Mick Clarke (4-70) returned to the attack to rip out the middle order as the visitors slumped to 177 for 8. An unbroken stand for the 9th wicket saw Upminster to their full complement of batting bonus points.
This is the seventh successive league victory for the 1st XI and keeps them top of the table.

Bad Day for 2nds at Upminster

It was a bad day for the 2nd XI at Upminster. James Lock's 56 not out boosted the score to 197 for 9. Jim Thornton (45) had given the side a fine start but only Robert Newton (27) of the other batsmen impressed. The total proved inadequate as Upminster cruised home with 8 wickets in hand.

Barnard and Reardon Secure 2nd Win for 3rd XI

The 3rd XI secured their second successive win, to move them to the middle of the table, at Shenfield on Saturday. Half centuries from Mick Barnard (58) and Gerry Reardon (53) led the chase for 225 which was achieved with 5 wickets to spare. Mark Gorsuch (37), Graham Cook (20 n.o.), Ian Gibbs (20) and 'pinch hitter' John Coxall (21) all made useful contributions.

4ths Go Down in Last Over

The 4th XI went down in the final over by 3 wickets to Walthamstow at Ilford wanderers on Saturday. A respectable total of 180 for 9 was led by Chris Brett and Trevor Manning, both of whom made 32. Steve Wyatt (25), Keith Walmsley (23) and Dean Pruscino (20) helped the side achieve 6 bating points. This was a challenging target for the visitors who just got home despite 3 wickets apiece for (3-38) and Dean Pruscino (3-64).

Daws and Bayfield Hold On

The 5th XI's youngster acquitted themselves well in a friendly against Havering-Atte-Bower on Saturday. However, it was left to the seniors, Graham Bayfield and Trevor Daws to bat out the final 8 overs to earn a draw.

Mizzy Can't Stop another Sunday Defeat

The Sunday 1st XI slipped to another defeat in the Sunday League when they lost by 3 wickets to Wickford. With another fixture due to be filled by the 2nd XI when the 1st XI take on Wanstead in the Evening Standard Trophy, it is looking to be a struggle even this early in the season. Mick Clarke scored 33 as opener with the other main contributors being Misbah Uddin (24) and the less likely partnership of 'Mesh' Chandra (23 n.o.) and Zahid Ahmed (25 n.o.). in a 45 over total of 197 for 8.
Wickford passed this total with nearly 9 overs to spare despite the efforts of Misbah (5-27) who took five of the 7 wickets to fall.

Locky Saves Big Al's Blushes

Things were going very well for the Sunday 2nd XI when their young attack of Adam Green (4-24) and Lee Marshall (1-22) removed the Goresbrook top order for less than 30. They were assisted in this by a stinging catch by Alan Brett. Things went even better when Pipey Harris cut short their fight back with 3 for 26. With the rain clouds approaching, Green were set for an early team when the Goresbrook skipper lobbed the easiest catch imaginable to skipper Al Surrey. Big Al, who had endured some stick from spectators at Woodford Wells the previous day, showed that their taunts may have had some justification as he spilled the simple chance. The extra 28 runs added for the last wicket mad the target a little bit more tricky.
Jon Bayfield (25) made a fine start but with Cockinson (28) enjoying the sort of form that makes next week's visit to Cloghams a bookies dream as he fights to stave off his third successive golden duck at the ground. However James Lock (55 n.o.) was in fine form and took Green to victory with a little help from an embarrassed skipper (37).

1st XI Prevail in Top of the Table Tussle

The 1st XI moved to the top of division 2 following a comprehensive win against the previously unbeaten Woodford Wells. Mick Clarke bowled a splendid opening spell taking the valuable wicket of Leiper but was unlucky not to dismiss Rogers (83) who was dropped on nought. Royston Smith also bowled well from the other end and achieved the initial breakthrough with the assistance of a smart catch in the gulley by Jo Jayasuriya. Rogers and Geise took Wells to a strong position at 156 for 2 when Jon Powell, bowling a good line and length, turned one through the gate to dismiss Geise. Jumbo Jeffries (2-33) dismissed Rogers almost immediately precipitating a collapse in which Jon Powell finished with 5 for 64 and a Jumbo gained a run out with some good fielding to his own bowling. There was some good out cricket with fine catches in the deep by Royston Smith and Chris Cook, as Wells slumped to 206 all out.
Green soon lost Grant Apicella but the Woodford Wells slip fielding proved equally fallible as Jon Powell (31) and Royston Smith (82) laid the foundations for victory. Geise removed Jon Powell but Jo Jayasuriya played freely, scoring 50 in quick time. When he departed to a catch behind the wicket, there was plenty of time for Paul Nichols (27 n.o.) and Royston Smith to score the remaining runs. Smudger departed with 8 required but victory duly came with 6 wickets and 15 overs to spare.

Cas Leads 2nd XI to Second Place

Martin Cason scored his second successive league ton against Hadleigh & Thundersley on Saturday. Green did well to restrict the visitors to 193 for 7 with Misbah Uddin taking 4 for 44 . With Dave Lock relegated to number 6 to accommodate The Sub (34), they then cruised home by 8 wickets with James Lock making 34 not out..
This second successive league win has moved the 2nd XI from one off the bottom to 2nd place in a closely contested league.

3rd XI Off the Mark

The 3rd XI got off the mark with a 7 wicket victory against Westcliff-on-Sea. Led by Mark Gorsuch, in the absence of John Coxall, the visitors were bowled out for 163 with Ian Gibbs (3-18) and Ed Jones (3-21) each taking 3 wickets. Green's strong batting line up passed the score with ease with Mark Gorsuch (37), Ian Gibbs (35 n.o.), Andy Symes (28), Sir Harold (25 n.o.) and Gerry Reardon (24) all making runs.

Heavy Defeat for 4th XI

A weakened 4th XI were outplayed by Gidea Park & Romford at Gallows Corner on Saturday. The hosts scored 282 for 5 which proved too much for Green who were bowled out for 128 with Andrew Giles (35) and Aaron Hills (32) making the only significant contribution .

Smudger in Essex League Victory

Royston Smith (right - click to see larger image), was selected to play in the Shepherd Neame Essex League's match against the Berkshire League on Wednesday. Coming in at 101 for 2 in answer to the Berkshire Leagues 224, Royston scored 66 not out in partnership with Diwan of Ilford as the Essex League won by 8 wickets. Essex play Surrey Championship Division 2 in the Quarter Final at Woodford Wells on Wednesday 7^th July.

Whale & Pig Roam The Common

The first midweek friendly against Nazeing Common ended in a draw despite a brave effort by Steve Gawler (50) and John Doughty (31 n.o.) Set a target of 182, Green slumped to an embarrassing 41 for 6 as young Montgomery bowled a fine spell, taking 4 -16, for the hosts. The Pig then proceeded to take advantage of some loose bowling supported by a stubborn (i.e. boring) Cockinson. This pair put on 61 before The Pig was taken in the deep but this let in The Whale who continued in similar manner. The return of Mongomery (6-40) aroused Cockinson from his slumber and an unlikely victory became a possibility with 2 overs to go but, with the fall of Cockinson (34) and Pipey in the same over, Green settled to play out the last over with 9 wickets down.
Earlier, Nazeing Common had mad slow progress on a slow wicket with opener Crowley batting through 51 overs for his 69 n.o. Steve Gawler (2-23) took 2 early wickets and with Pipey Harris (2-34) destroying the middle order, Nazeing struggled to 73 for 5. Sturdy and Barker, assisted by the poor field placement of Grant Apicella, upped the tempo despite a good spell from John Doughty who took 2-40.

Birthday Boy Sets The Standard

Jon Powell marked his birthday with an excellent all-round performance as the Green proceeded into the 3rd round of the evening Standard Trophy by beating Gravesend at the Bat & Ball ground on Sunday.
Skipper Royston Smith sensibly chose to bat on a surface that became more unreliable as the match progressed. Jon Powell (68) and Grant Apicella got us off to a flyer scoring at over 7 an over. The partnership was broken with 98 on the board to allow Royston Smith in and continue in the same vein. Jon Powell was caught with the score on 157 but a total in excess of 300 still seemed likely at the half way stage. However, scoring became increasingly difficult as the ball became softer with Royston Smith dropped 3 times in his 76 whilst Gavin Castle struggled to maintain the rate. It was left to Mick Clarke (16) and Chris Cook (14) to give the score a welcome boost to 281 at the end of 50 overs.
Gravesend responded in similar manner as their openers sped along at seven an over with a couple of chances being spurned. Mesh Chandra broke the stand with the assistance of a fine catch in the deep by Jon Powell. Jon (3-21) then turned wicket taker with a smart catch by Clouseau at short cover and a nonchalant take on the boundary by The Sub. Alastair Horne, having announced his retirement, bowled steadily to pick up 2 wickets and Mick Clarke (4-11) finished off the tail with the assistance of some fine catching including 2, surprisingly from Grant Apicella. Jon Powell finished with 4 catches to round off a splendid day's cricket.

Powell Leads the Way in 300 Run Chase

Jon Powell continued his magnificent run of form as he and Royston Smith led the demanding chase for 300 against Old Parkonians on Saturday. Powell scored a century and Smith 87 in a superb 2nd wicket stand. After both had departed, the good work was continued by Gavin Castle and Misbah Uddin who were both undefeated in the thirties.
The Old Parks total of 299 for 6 was built around a blistering century from the prolific Ali. This was the fifth successive league win for the 1st XI who are joint top of the table with Woodford Wells, who they play next week.

Martin Cason Ton Secures 2nd XI Win

Martin Cason punched his weight with a ton in the 2nd XI's first league win of the season on Saturday. Fat Cas (129) dominated an opening partnership of 66 with Andy Symes after Harlow had scored 215 for 8 declared in 52overs. Captain Fierce perished as he tried to up the tempo and with Simon Brown, James Lock and Trevor Oakley departing without much addition to the score the balance of the game appeared to shift in favour of the home side. Aaron Hills (15) played a significant little innings which saw the tempo increase and put the game back in the balance. Fat Cas continued to dominate and after he and Dave Lock fell, it was left to 'Mesh' Chandra and The Sub to steer Green home.
Earlier, Zahid Ahmed (2-38) dismissed both openers in a good opening spell. The game threatened to run away from Ardleigh Green as Dave Lock's first 7 deliveries went for 22 including 3 sixes off successive balls. Then Aspinall(63), having feasted at the Lock table, over indulged and holed out a cover. Lock's economy rate improved somewhat and he soon picked up another wicket from a return catch. An economical 10 over spell by Mesh (1-27) ensured that the target would not be too great and The Sub (2-28) picked up 2 late wickets as Harlow sought to break the shackles.
Once again, this was an enjoyable and sporting encounter, played in a fine spirit.

If I Were a Rich Man

Those of you who stick to the adage that 'money goes to money' will be delighted by the news that one of the richest men in the club, Steve 'Tonker' Wyatt won the Ardleigh Green Lottery Bonus Ball competition 2 weeks in succession during May. For a list of winners, click here.

If you fancy a gamble, then why not enter The Trolley's 'Play Your Cards Right' held each Saturday night in the pavilion. However, you should beware of mystic powers (see below).

Faith Healer Attempts the Impossible

Mystic powers were in evidence at Central Park on Sunday. After the laying on of hands to comfort an injured player, The Trolley invited 'The Healer' to see if she could improve his batting. Whilst the crowds were aghast at such a challenge, the young lady accepted the challenge. Much heat was generated through the feet of the Trolley (is this how Hostess trolleys work to keep food warm?). It remains to be seen what impact those healing hands will have when the Trolley next appears at the crease. (See Caption Competition).

Bianca and Herbie See Sunday 2nds Home

Herbie Gosnell was at it again on Sunday when he refreshed his acquaintance with the Hockerill club and hit a quick 45 in a 5 wicket victory. After a slow start, Herbie injected some pace when batting in tandem with James Lock who scored a fine 50. Jon Bayfield weighed in with 26 and Alex Cason was left to knock off the winning runs.
Earlier in the day Hockerill looked to be set for a high scored as they raced away at the start of the match. Hockerill's opener looked in impressive form until he slashed ferociously at a ball from Mick Barnard (3-43) only to be taken by a magnificent one-handed catch in the gulley by The Trolley. Pipey Harris took 3 for 44and Josh Barnard 2 for 30 but, perhaps the pick of the bowling was James Haylett who bowled his 6 overs for 14 runs without any luck.

Alex and Matthew Destroy 3 Caps

Matthew Simmons (3-7) and Alex Cason (2-13) destroyed 3 Caps in the Len Stentiford Cup on Sunday when the visitors were restricted to 65 for 7 from their 20 overs. Alex was also in good form with the bat and retired with 31. He received good support from Scott Daws, who scored 14, as Green knocked off the runs with8 wickets in hand and over 4 overs left.

Jeffries and Cook See 1st XI Home

The cool heads of Simon Jeffries and Chris Cook saw the 1st XI to a 4th successive Shepherd Neame League victory and joint top spot.
The day began badly as Stanford-Le-Hope raced away at over 7 an over but 2 wickets to Royston Smith, including the ever dangerous Gray, pegged things back. Misbah Uddin then bowled a long and inexpensive spell in which he took 4 wickets to leave a target of 207, considerably less than first seemed likely.
Paul Nichols departed early but Jon Powell and Royston Smith set about their task, displaying their rich vein of recent form. The game turned miraculously when a hat-trick saw Powell, Gavin Castle and Grant Apicella out in the same over. Royston Smith and Mick Clarke set about re-building the innings but Smudger's departure swung the balance once again. Misbah played a few good shots but perished needlessly on the boundary. Mick Clarke finally fell which let in Kevin Brailey who looked in control until being dismissed to a trademark LBW. Simon Jeffries, who played with a mixture of sound defence and blistering shots saw Green home in the company of the Chris Cook.
 

Mesh and Toast Defy Hornchurch

The 2nd XI struggled to hold on for a draw in their league match against a powerful Hornchurch side at Central Park on Staurday. The vistors blasted their way to 272 for 6 with Roberts making an unbeaten 116. Only Dave Lock returned respectable figures, taking 3 for 54.
The Green batting crumbled apart fro a fine 40 from Jim Thornton who, earlier in the day, had taken 3 stumpings. All seemed lost when skipper and last man, Trevor Oakley, joined Mahesh Chandra with 9 wickets down and the score on 122. However, Toast had other ideas and the pair, far from being content with a consolation batting point, blasted away to register an unbeaten partnership of 57 for the last wicket. Toast finished with 40 n.o. and Mesh 21 n.o.

Chingford Hold On Despite Graham Cook's Five

The 3rd XI slipped to bottom place in the league after being held to a draw at Chingford. A splendid 83 by Gerry Reardon with runs also from Ian Gibbs (38), Andy Symes (38) and Sir Harold (40 n.o.) boosted the score to 225 for 3. Chingford managed to hold on with 8 wickets down despite a five wicket haul by Graham Cook (5-38).

Brett and Wyatt Move 4th XI to Third Spot

The 4th XI did well to restrict Fives & Heronians to 149 for 9 with Pipey Harris taking (2 for 30 and Andy Cook 2 for 24. There was a long and economical spell too from Dave Brown who tied up one end. Whilst Keith Walmsley (33) laid anchor, Alan Brett scored a fluent 44. Steve 'Tonker' Wyatt managed a quickfire 31 n.o. despite a slight mix up in running with Les, and saw Green to victory by 5 wickets.

5ths No Match for Hockerill Despite Herbie's Blast

James Haylett bowled a fine early spell in which he took 2 for 3 in 4 overs to set Hockerill 3rd XI onto the back foot in the 5th XI friendly on Saturday. However the batting of the home side was quite strong and they recovered to 236 for 5. This total always looked to be too many for a very young Ardleigh Green side. Gary Green, playing his first game for the club in 9 years, opened with 41 but it was big-hitting Herbie Gosnell who stole the show by blasting 6 sixes and 6 fours in a rapid 75. Once Herbie departed, defeat looked likely but young Adam Green played out the match comfortably with 21 n.o.

No Aces Up Brownie's Sleeve

Dave Brown had to give up his role of 'dolly dealer' when he was drawn to play the latest round of The Trolley's play your cards right. However, he perished on the first card to follow up his successful first round elimination in the Poker Night. There is now a rollover to next week.