Reckless 1s Singing in the Rain

The 1's burgled 7 points from a far superior on the day Great Baddow side as a downpour with the visitors just 24 runs short of their less than imposing target of 126 saw the match abandoned.

Highlights on the day were few and far between, although Jordan Calverley's new hairdo is likely to prove a hit with the ladies in Benfleet and Kurt looked very smart in his tweed jacket after the match on his way to Hornchurch.

On the pitch, Kane Messenger top-scored with 33 from 29 balls, taking the side into 3 figures after the batsmen lurched from 33-0 after 5 overs to 76-7 in the 15th. Three batsmen were dismissed pulling or hooking, as the visitors aggression with the ball was met with a refusal to back down, or keep the ball down, by the batsmen.

A further three men were caught in the slips, as the batsmen flashed so hard that epilepsy sufferer Chris Burke was forced to turn away for his own health. In fairness, as poorly as the 1's batted, the Baddow bowlers came at the batsmen and the fielders held on to some tremendous catches as wickets tumbled on virtually an overly basis. The only one of the first seven wickets not to be caught was Jordan Calverley, who lost his middle stump trying to deposit opening bowler George Simmons into Romford, Simmons enjoying a fine day taking 4 for 57, with fellow opener Tom Evans-Green impressing with 10 overs 3 for 29.

With Messenger restoring some semblance of respectability, it was left to Israel Ochwo to actually try to occupy the crease for any length of time, a novel tactic on the day and one which in retrospect made the difference between defeat and escape, as Ochwo's 51 ball unbeaten 13 extended the innings to the 29th over meaning that Great Baddow couldn't finish off the game in the 10 overs available before tea.

Although Gunalan and Choudhury batted well after Ochwo removed Wilson, the loss of 2 wickets to Shane Barwick after tea stalled the chase slightly and after the storms came at 103-3 in 18 overs, no further play proved possible.