Halstead CC need points to change fortuned (From Gazette)

Halstead CC need points to change fortuned

4:50pm Friday 10th July 2009 in

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BOTTOM club Halstead begin the second half of their Gibbs Denley Premier League campaign tomorrow, desperate for a change in fortunes.

The Star Stile club currently prop up the rest of the division, having won just two of their games since their promotion as Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division one champions.

Halstead play host to Fakenham at Star Stile tomorrow – the team who inflicted a nine-wicket defeat on them on the opening day.

Matt Spatcher’s side will be on the hunt for revenge this weekend.

They will be aided by the return of several players, with the likes of former Essex second XI batsman Matt Surry, Freddie Blackwell, Bertie Blackwell and Jed Cawkwell all expected to be available again.

Halstead chairman Stuart Berger said: “We have some good players coming in this weekend and we’re hopeful of changing our fortunes.

“We have some very young but promising players in our squad.

“With the results we’ve had, we won’t exactly go into the game brimming with confidence.

“It’s tight at the bottom and we probably don’t deserve to be anywhere else at this stage.

“But the players coming back will be coming into the game a little bit cold having not played and that could stand us in good stead.”

Halstead will have the advantage of being on home territory again, tomorrow.

Berger believes the toss will be crucial in influencing the way the game shapes up.

“If we win the toss, I’m sure we’ll bat first,” he said.

“In this league, there are bonus batting points up for grabs for teams who bat first.

“In our position, we can’t afford to put sides in and risk them getting a big score and getting away from us.

“Star Stile is a good pitch to bat on.

“It’s a good wicket and with the weather we’ve had this week, it should be a fine batting track.”

Halstead’s batsmen will be looking for a much-improved performance, following last weekend’s dire display at Norwich.

Halstead barely made 100 in Norfolk, with only four of the batters making it into double figures in the ten-wicket defeat.

Berger added: “Our bowlers have generally been doing very well – it’s just the batting side of things that has let us down.”

l Clacton travel to play third-placed Cambridge Granta, hoping to bounce back from last weekend’s six-wicket defeat against Horsford.