SHENLEY CHURCH END
CRICKET CLUB

SCECC were simply too strong in all departments for Division Three's bottom club to mount any sort of reasonable challenge, especially after the hosts posted a huge first innings total on a pitch that held up reasonably well - a week's worth of rain soaking the strip.

Claydon's total of 49 looks to be the 3rd lowest score ever in the division, partly due to the clearly under strength team, but as always in a cricket match the visitors did have their moments of clear parallels in quality to SCECC.

After winning the toss and deciding to field first, trying to take advantage of the soft ground, opening bowler Adrian Gregory helped to pin Shenley down to just 21 from the first 9 overs, before the motors on the batting cogs started.

Nick Rogers pitched in with a steady 58, though the real partnership was between Colin Wayman and Anton DeBeer, firing the scores on either side of the drinks break. New recruit DeBeer then fell for 45, playing at a full toss and caught, which although adjudged no ball from square leg, was eventually overruled.

Wayman's typical bullish innings gave him his first half century of 2007 and was out in similar controversial circumstances. The umpire questioned whether the ball had indeed been intact in the Claydon's wicketkeeper's glove as Wayman attempted to make his ground on a run, but after deliberation, the wicket was given.

Stuart Hardwick then uncharacteristically fell first ball to give more reason to cheer as Steeple thwarted a promising total. it was left to Graham Teagle and Richard Fletcher finihsed off the innings for a encouraging total of 242-5.

There wasn't much cheer about the Claydon innings. For Shenley, 4 wicket hauls by Anton DeBeer (6.4-2-9-4) and spinner Graham Teagle (3-1-4-4) ensured the simplicity of the win. Claydon's best scorer Andy Clark's 20 was abruptly ended by DeBeer, while a highlight was Wayman's stunning catch one handed catch at short leg.

SCECC sit joint second with the Open University on 71 points behind early leaders Milton Bryan, and are expected to drop places as the club's 2007 Tour takes place this Bank Holiday weekend, hence no League fixture.