Scorecard

Chelmsford Spartans 1 v Purleigh CC Saturday 1st XI on Sat 19 Aug 2023 at 1 pm
Purleigh CC Lost by 213 runs

Match report PURLEIGH ARE MASSACRED BY THE SPARTANS

On paper, it looked like a strong side, albeit a bowler light, that gathered at Boreham Rec to take on Chelmsford Spartans, The Purleigh lads may have been wondering why the opposition were so-named - could it be to do with the spartan conditions in the changing rooms, showers and toilets, or was it perhaps their spartan-like self-denial of any opportunity to play a defensive shot? But no, it was more that, like the Spartan warriors of the 5th century BC, they enjoyed massacring the opposition, in modern times with some relentless slogging followed up with good bowling and fielding by a group of young, fit lads, qualities sadly confined to the past for many members of the visiting team.

The day had started well with skipper Freegard winning the toss (eventually!) and inviting the home side to bat first on a damp, green wicket. The openers were clearly more Bazball than Boycott, resulting in several aerial hits and a few quick fours, but inevitably both soon fell to top-edged hits, well-caught first by Alex Reeves and then Matt Oliver, 36 for 2. A fifty-partnership between Spartan's two best batters was broken by Josh Taylor, first mugging the no.3 lbw, then eleven runs later inducing another top-edged mis-hit, caught round the corner by Matt Oliver. At 97 for 4 in the 25th over Purleigh were well in the game despite having dropped more than one catch. But now the slogging went up a gear, and the lack of a fifth regular bowler was costly as 14 sixes were conceded, two of them nice straight hits among the hoicks. Even at 221 for 8 after 40 overs (and more missed chances) the score didn't seem out of control, but the last five overs went for fifty runs, Spartans ending on 271 for 8 from 45 overs.

After tea, regular openers Chris Freegard and Josh Taylor found both the bowling and pitch conditions tougher than the previous week, scoring only 5 before Taylor was caught in the third over. This brought the second Oliver brother, Dan, to the crease for his first appearance since 2019. A long partnership with the skipper might have brought Purleigh back into the game or at least secured some batting points, but sadly Chris suffered a rare cheap dismissal, caught low down for 4 after 5 overs. This sparked an under-11 style collapse as a trail of batters failed to match the Spartan's hitting, wickets falling at 20, 26, 26 and 39 when Dan was out, top-scoring with 20, the game was well and truly gone. Shahid entertained briefly at the end, but when he was bowled for 9, Purleigh had capitulated for 58 all out in 16.2 overs, not good enough, but so far the only slaughtering suffered this season with two games to go, and second place still a possibility.

Chelmsford Spartans 1 Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 11w 9b  
for 8 wickets
21
271 (45.0 overs)		     
A Rakwal ct  M. Oliver b. Freegard 17
A Khan ct  Reeves b. M. Oliver 1
P Yogi lbw  Taylor 26
I Akhtar ct  M.. Oliver b. Taylor 39
T Sharif ct  Freegard b. Patel 42
A Ali st  E. Oliver b Freegard 21
C Vajrala ct  M. Oliver b. D. Oliver 35
T Thiru Not Out  60
G Sinha ct  Patel b. Yasin 2
V Vijay Not Out  7
J Mohammed  

Purleigh CC Saturday 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Jai Patel9.0152152.005.78
Matt Oliver8.0230130.003.75
Christian Freegard9.0146223.005.11
Shahid Yasin9.0248148.005.33
Josh Taylor4.0034217.008.50
Dan Oliver6.0052152.008.67

Purleigh CC Saturday 1st XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
5nb 1w 3b 5lb 
for 10 wickets
14
58		        
Christian Freegard ct  Vijay 4 1 1
Josh Taylor ct  Vijay 5
Dan Oliver ct  Sharif 20 4
Steve Rynn ct  Vijay 2
Jordan Oliver b  Sharif 1
Jai Patel ct  Sharif 0 1
Mark Rynn b  Sharif 0
Matt Oliver b  Sharif 2 3
Alex Reeves ct  Sharif 0 1
Shahid Yasin b  Vajrala 0
Ed Oliver   1

Chelmsford Spartans 1 Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
V Vijay5.012638.675.20
T Sharif8.021462.331.75
T Thiru3.01900.003.00
C Vajrala0.20111.003.00