REMINISCES of a wonderful summer from Simon Baulcomb – fifty years a club playing member & Match Manager of the 250^th Anniversary Sub-Committee.

A sensational summer of cricket and joy throughout the Club with games to remember, new friends made and compliments aplenty about the facilities we have and the superb spirit everywhere you look.

We began our series of events against Sawbridgeworth. Alfie Jessey shone with the bat, ball and in the field as we squeezed home by 2 runs with everyone on the balcony completely wrapped up in events on the field, a sensational start.

The Barbados High Commission was a day that will live long in the memory, those that didn’t have any rum punch, will be at a distinct advantage there ! 

A wonderful afternoon played very competitively with some very talented older cricketers from the Commission on show. The food tent and music added to the atmosphere, we could easily have been in the Caribbean.

Many are eager to repeat the game next year as soon as possible !!

Next up was a Development XI game with Bishops Stortford. At 64/7 we were looking at an early bath. However, the experience and guile of Adam Dack and Simon Baulcomb, along with a patient 15 from Fisky got us to a half decent 179, top scorer Mr Extras….57 ! A much more measured reply from Stortford saw them edge home in the last over 8 wickets down. Some splendid bowling performances from the Harlow youngsters made the game very watchable. Ben Dack, 4-32 and Lia Fisk 1-27, almost got us the victory.

Matching Green were next up. They didn’t seem too worried about when the game started, the open bar being of much greater interest !

When we did finally play cricket, Zabi wasted no time in getting runs on the board. Atif got the ball of the day Eliot then carried on the fun allowing us to finish on 237-4, on another plumb Clarkie track.

Matching’s reply was dominated by a Mr Shah, who clearly knew what he was doing. However regular wickets at the other end allowed us to exert a bit of pressure and with the rate increasing we ran out comfortable winners by 30 runs on another delightful summers day. 

Cricket week was a joy from start to finish. CCC v Sports Exchange was another incredible advert for the talent that is available around the Country.

Our game v MCC, well what can you say ? From looking like we were going to chase 400, to winning chasing just 200 was utterly amazing. Wickets were spread as control returned with the spin of Fisk and Sullivan. Our reply was anchored by James Mitchell, with Rehman and Ben contributing on their return. We cruised home by 5 wickets to seal a famous victory and our illustrious visitors. Lunch was superb, many old friends up for the day to take in the event, the whole place was buzzing for at least 10 hours. So many compliments on the day just shows how close we are, we have to take that next step.

Our other blot was a T20 loss to our friends from up the road, Harlow Town. In gathering gloom and virtually no light we succumbed with a few balls remaining. A good game given the conditions….bleak wet and dark !

We entertained Maldon at the end of July an official 250 game celebrating the very first 250 years ago. Sadly, they were weak but a game was had and our first 4 all filled their boots Atif, Billy, Alfie and Rich Norris ALL retired with 50’s to their names. 267 was always going to be too many. George and Ronnie took 3 each as we eased to a comfortable victory by over 150 runs. Full credit to Maldon for honouring the fixture, unlike Upminster….!

Our last game was against our friends and fellow Marigolds incumbents, The Millers. An even game with many friends playing against each other, which added a bit of spice ! We got to 215 with Zabi notching another 50, ably supported by Atif, Waheed and Matt Fisk. A spirited reply had the game in the balance all the way through. Ultimately, we had more than enough variety in our bowling to keep the Millers at arms length as we won by 35 runs.

Our Gala Dinner at the end of September was nothing short of a raging success, Graham Gooch OBE, entertained like a natural. Though he did not suffer ANY interruptions, I can imagine that how he Captained, no nonsense. An outrageously successful Auction that Graham took charge of, Nick did us proud with the menu, just wish I hadn’t drunk quite so much !

A fantastic and fitting way to celebrate 250 years playing cricket. Can’t wait for the 500 !!