Great
Totham (small ground) and Stock (small ground) relegated from Premier
League. Herongate (small ground) and Great Baddow promoted from Division
2. Could be sixes galore in 2011. Note to self: don't make boundaries
too big next year - the clubs with small grounds always get more bonus
(batting) points.
Chignal 182 for 6
Burnham 75 all out.
Chignal won by 107 runs.
It was 1st v Second in the season's finale at Millfield with Chignal needing just 4 points to secure promotion and a win to take the title. Burnham knew that an 8th successive win and bettering 3rd placed Rayleigh's result would pip them to promotion. Burnham won the toss and asked Chignal to bat first. After a slow start Chignal progressed to 182 for 6 off their 45 overs, Matt Cant scored 23 and Fazal Rahman top scored with 94, hitting 7 sixes (four in one over) and 7 fours. For Burnham Andy Stephens bowled well taking 3 wickets for 21 off his 12 overs. In reply Burnham lost wickets regularly, Tom Bird completed an excellent season with the ball taking 4 for 28 off 9 overs and Fazal Rahman with impressive figures of 2.3 over, 4 wickets for 2 runs, including a hat trick, completed a fantastic all round performance, to dismiss Burnham for just 75 runs and gain promotion to the Premier League as Division One Champions for the first time in the club's history.
Bentley II 144 all out
Rayleigh 146 for 6
Rayleigh won by 4 wickets
Rayleigh went into this 3rd versus 4th place clash, knowing that a better result than 2nd placed Burnham Sports would see them promoted to the Premier Division for the fist time. Bentley II batted first and were bowled out by Rayleigh for 144, Rayleigh then chased down Bentley's total for the loss of 6 wickets and with Burnham only gaining 3 points against newly crowned champions Chingal, Rayleigh had done enough to go up the Premier League in 2nd place.
Tillingham 90 all out
Ingatestone 91 for 2
Ingatestone won by 8 wickets
At the wrong end of the table, second from bottom Ingatestone went into the last game of the season sixteen points behind third from bottom Brookweald, knowing that only a win at relegated Tillingham and a defeat for Brookweald would save them from the drop. The first part of that equation came easily, 'Gate ripped through Tillingham's brittle batting, bowling them out for 90 and then proceeded to knock off the runs for the loss of just two wickets, maximum points gained and one part of the equation complete, so it was fingers crossed that Little Waltham would win at Brookweald.
Little Waltham 161 all out (37.2 overs)
Brookweald 164 for 1 (32.3 overs)
Brookweald won by 9 wickets
Brookweald went into the last game knowing that only a win would guarantee them staying up and avoid a second successive relegation. Brookweald won the toss and inserted Little Waltham who made a solid start with an opening stand of 68 between Thorogood (39) and Jeffrey (22), but when Jeffrey was run out by 'Weald captain Taylor, things began to turn in the home side's favour. Wickets fell regularly and thanks mainly to Martin Hodgies with 6 for 41 from his 9 overs Little Waltham were shot out for 161 in the 38th over. In reply Brookweald were always in control, scoring steadily throughout, Taylor played a captain's innings and shared an opening stand of 130 with Lee Newton. When Taylor was out on 79 in the 25th over the heavens opened and for 10 agonizing minutes Brookweald thought they might be cruelly denied by the weather, but the rain relented and Newton who finished 65 not out and Paul Rawlings with 18 not out, saw their side home to victory and condemning Ingatestone to relegation.
Writtle 160 all out,
Gt. Waltham 161-3
In the only dead rubber of the season finale, Writtle lost the toss and were inserted on wet wicket at Great Waltham. Losing a wicket first ball before Clout’s three-ball spell ended, Writtle recovered to 71-1 with Dias scoring 58 and Fenton 15, but the Great Waltham bowlers applied the pressure and Writtle were bowled out for 160, Marsh top scored with 44 and for Great Waltham Duggan bowled 12 overs 2-23, supported by S Harris took 2-65 and Chapman 2-19. In reply Gt. Waltham were never really troubled, Marsh took with 1-23 and Kalim 1-10 could not stop Great Waltham cruising to victory, the consistent G Bloom having been dropped on 0 took Waltham to victory by 7 wickets with 67 not out, assisted by Kendrick who scored 38.