by Barckley Sumner

High Beach 83 all out
Dunmow II’s 84-5

HIGH Beach suffered more misery when for the fourth week in succession their batting failed.

The Beach lost the toss on a pitch offering good pace but were undone by the overhead conditions which allowed the ball to swing prodigiously.

First to depart for the Beach was Danny Fowler (0) who was bowled by young opening bowler Sneath. Sneath then quickly picked up Mickey Evans (4) who was also castled.

Further disaster befell the Beach when opener Barckley Sumner (11) was caught LBW by Sneath, who was swinging the ball both ways.

With the score still on 29 the Beach were soon four down with Daniel Hanna (6) bowled by left armer Lewis.

The score had advanced to 45 when Alex Brooks (0) was adjudged LBW. With half the side back in the hutch and not even 50 on the board the Beach were facing disaster.

A partnership of 30 between Paul Glasgow and stand-in skipper Rodney Bear looked to be repairing the damage but that came to an end when Bear (8) was also LBW.

Any chance of the Beach reaching a respectable score ended when Glasgow (32) was also LBW. The tail enders were soon cleaned up and the Beach were all out for 83.

Pick of the bowlers for the Beach were 14 year old J Sneath (3-14) and Gibson who picked up (4-18).

The only chance for the Beach was to get early wickets and to hope the ball kept on swinging.

Both hopes were achieved. Aging pace bowler Paul Glasgow was able to summon up a hostile opening spell. He trapped opener Pearce (0) in his first over. Then in his second he had the other opener Sneath (10) well caught by keeper Sumner and then got Bush caught at point first ball. In his 3rd over Glasgow picked up Langford who put the longest of long hops to square leg.

With the score on 27-4 the Beach looked right back in the game. However for Dunmow Connolly and Gypps began to assert themselves. Fatally for the Beach they dropped both players, probably the difference between winning and losing the game.

The Beach did finally get Connolly (40) brilliantly caught at short cover but with the score on 74 it was too late and Dunmow were able to run out winners by five wickets.

The Beach will again be encouraged by their bowling and will hope to find some form with the bat.