Colchester finish a creditable sixth (From Gazette)

Colchester finish a creditable sixth

10:12am Wednesday 9th September 2009 in

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Colchester and East Essex have finished their premier division season in a creditable sixth place.

Hopes were not high for Andrew Kennedy’s side at the beginning of the summer.

But a fantastic mid-season spell saw them push on up the table and a final day victory over Ardleigh Green has seen them gain a respectable mid-table position.

While such a placing may not sound all that impressive for a big club such as Colchester, it has to be placed into a context whereby many key players left before the season started and they were replaced by youngsters with little or no experience of premier division cricket.

One of them is 15-year-old Reece Topley, who was at the centre of the final day win.

Colchester won the toss and decided to bat in East London.

They made 215 all out from 49 overs, with Alex Young top-scoring with 50 from 40 balls.

It was a vital innings, as Colchester didn’t look as though they were going to reach 200.

Nathan O’Brien (31) and Kennedy (44) had earlier added a partnership of 60, but it was the 33 added by Young and Topley that put Colchester into a position from which they could expect to be in with a chance of winning.

Green were bowled out for just 125, as Topley (4-36 from 10) tore into them.

The rest of the wickets were shared between Ben Stephens, Nick Gibbs, Young and Kennedy (two).

Colchester’s second team were beaten at home by Ardleigh Green’s second team.

Green posted 174-9 from 52 overs, with Iain McQueen taking two wickets.

Glen Bolton top-scored with 34 as Colchester were bowled out for 158 to finish the season in seventh place in second XI division one.