Cup Reports
4th May – Boxted Vs Elmstead – Boxted 238-6, Elmstead 168 all-out, Boxted won by 70 runs
Boxted won the toss in this potentially difficult preliminary round cup match. On a damp track Chris Wilson chanced his arm in his 18 and departed with the score on 25. In came run machine Ed Whybrow on the back of 2 unbeaten hundreds who departed first ball to leave us deep in trouble. Ian Evans carefully at first and Mike Pearce in his usual style set about rebuilding the innings. Soon the runs started to flow and the hundred was brought up in the 23rd over. Both passed 50 and Mike’s was his first for the club. Eventually Pearce was out for 60 including 4 sixes with the score on 149. Evans now upped his pace clearing the boundary 3 times himself and with Matt Wilson adding a useful 26 the pair added a further 75 runs before Wilson was out. Evans completed his chanceless hundred on his way to 101 before a few late wickets left us with a very useful 238-6.
Michael Dell and Matty Francis started tightly with Francis continuing his good work from the previous day, this time though he was amongst the wickets taking 3 for 28 in a good opening spell. Dell also chipped in with one, with Evans hanging on to a sharp slip catch. Disaster was to strike as Evans in bowling his first delivery pulled his calf muscle and had to leave the field. Evergreen Sylvester McKnight (3-25) after a quick change of ends kept the pressure on backed up young Sean McGovern. The visitors threatened a comeback taking the score to 70 before McKnight ripped the middle order apart claiming 3 wickets. Whybrow bowling his occasional medium pacers also chipped in with a wicket, with McKnight clinging on to a good slip catch. Despite a few late blows, the victory was sealed with a wicket apiece to Paul Dowde and Paul Harris with McKnight again taking a good catch, as we ran out 70 run victors.
1st June – Boxted Vs Colchester & EE – Boxted 177-7, Colchester 178-4, Colchester won by 6 wickets.
Boxted elected to bat in overcast and damp conditions. After an initial slow start Ian Evans 57 and Clive Honey 16 prospered. Evans in particular putting away a string of boundaries in his half century. The score had reached 80 in the 21st over before Evans was clean bowled and one run later Honey followed in the same manner. Against tight bowling acceleration was difficult, but the runs did flow at an even rate as Mike Pearce 26, Mike Booker 17 and Mark Applin 20 pushed us towards a competitive total of 177-7.
Boxted started well in the field and the impressive Booker was rewarded with 2 wickets in his 10 overs at a cost of 23 runs. Colchester re-grouped and with the ball very wet were able to take advantage of some occasional poor deliveries. Evans claimed a wicket with score at 75, but from there on in Colchester strolled to victory as their overseas international in particular scored with ease. Shortly before the total was reached. Sylvester McKnight claimed a deserved wicket, but the visitors got home with 6 wickets and 6 overs to spare.
