Willowherbs 140-9

Purleigh 135-6

(Willowherbs won by five runs)

(T. Rippon League Division Four)

Willowherbs closed the gap at the top of Division Four after winning an exciting reduced overs contest at Purleigh on Saturday.

Credit went to the Purleigh groundsman who managed to clear an incredible amount of water from the square, after a torrential lunchtime downpour and play was able to start at 3.30pm.

The match was reduced to 30 overs a side and Purleigh won the toss and not surprisingly elected to field.

The Herbs were soon in trouble at 45 for four after 14 overs before the innings was given momentum by Steve Scott (24) and an excellent partnership of 52 between Dave Morgan (32) and Richard Hayden (29) lifted the Herbs to a slightly below par 140 for nine.

Chamberlain (4-64) was the pick of the Purleigh bowlers.

In the Purleigh reply Bowles (56) threatened to win the game for Purleigh with a quickfire innings.

He took Purleigh to within touching distance of victory, although Mark Anthony (1-39) and Mark Rayner (2-44) kept their cool with 19 runs needed off the last two overs and guaranteed that Purleigh fell just short.

Graham Green (3-49) bowled a superb early spell for the Herbs.

The Herbs are now 30 points behind leaders Brookweald, but more importantly are now 18 points clear of third placed Rayleigh Fairview.

Southend Municipal College 185-5

Willowherbs Sunday II 112-6

(Match drawn)

The Herbs settled for a draw at Southend on Sunday after losing early wickets in pursuit of 186 for victory.

Municipal College's total was built around a solid 46 for David Smith.

Graham Green and Mark Rayner bowled well to keep the score down and then Rob Free (2-16) and Davy Muir (2-29) got rid of the middle order.

In the reply Matt Jones (84 no) held the Herbs together after they had been 10 for 12 and steered them safely towards a draw.

Clark (3-10) was the Municipal College's bowling star.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.