4:30pm Thursday 27th August 2009
By Paul Alton
RAYLEIGH clinched promotion to Division One of the T Rippon Mid-Essex Cricket League in inauspicious circumstances.
The leaders lost by 134 runs away to third-placed Great Waltham, but the point gained meant Rayleigh secured promotion as Division Two champions.
Great Waltham batted first adn scored 282-3, but for the second week running the Rayleigh batting collapsed. Only Chris Eldridge (34) troubled the Great Waltham bowlers as the visitors were bowled out for 134 in reply.
Rayleigh II hosted second-placed Terling, who look set for promotion from Division Five alongside Willow Herbs, and lost by three wickets.
Luke Hedges (56) and Martin Sanderson (44no) led the way for the hosts as they posted 197-6. Richard Abley took 3-64 but Ter-ling replied with a winning 201-7.
Rettendon and Rankins are in pole position for promotion from Division Three, but Saturday’s final matches will decide if they will be playing in Division Two and who will be champions.
Rettendon had a 138-run win over Havering-atte-Bower and travel to a Rayleigh Fairview team which defeated Rankins by six runs at the weekend.
Rankins will be looking to get over that narrow defeat and return to winning ways at Havering.
In Division Six, Rayleigh Fairview II enjoyed a 67-run win over relegated Margaretting.
Matt Smith’s 66 helped the Fairview hosts to a respectable 234-9. Puchert (55) and Jones (40no) anchored the Margaretting reply but it fell short at 167-9.
Foulness had a seven-wicket win over hosts Hockley II. Ray Warner claimed 4-50 as Hockley made 208-9 from their 45 overs. In reply, Warner (62) and Creak (62) guided the visitors to a winning 209-3 with three overs to spare.
It is all to play for in Division Eight, where Rayleigh III are locked in a battle with Aythorpe Roding II for the second promotion spot.
The two teams are level on points going into the final round of matches after Aythorpe defeated Rayleigh by six wickets.
John Wright led the Rayleigh innings with a knock of 62 as the visitors scored 181-9.
But Aythorpe replied with a winning 184-4 to leave the promotion race going down to the wire.
Top-of-the-table Woodham Mortimer II visited Rayleigh IV in Division 10 and won by 87 runs.
Matt Belcher took 3-47 for Rayleigh as Mortimer hit 178-7 before the hosts were bowled out for 91.
Rayleigh V halted the club’s run of defeats with a 162-run victory over Rankins III.
Matt Williams hit 130 as Rayleigh posted 267-8, but Gideon Humphries (4-18) and Christian Humphries (3-58) helped restrict Rochford-based Rankins to 105 all out in reply.
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