On a nice day, Ben Baker the Stansted groundsman needed a pat on the back for producing such a nice wicket and amazing outfield. Combined with another outstanding tea by Christine Monk it was an absolute pleasure to play against Matching’s often arch rivals over the past few years.

Matty Abottson standing in for the injured Matt Cope won the toss and decided, somewhat unexpectedly, to put Matching in to bat on what appeared to be a very nice wicket.

Baker himself and Abottson opened the bowling and Graeme Bowerman and James Malyon opened the batting for Matching. Matching got off to a good start with the score being 41/0 off just 8 overs. Malyon then snicked a wide one off Baker and was caught behind by Ayres for 19. Jason Green came to the wicket and continued his superb form.

Josh Monk came on to bowl and quickly had Bowerman yorked for a well made 34. Green toiled away but Matching were losing regular wickets at the other end and as a result the run rate dropped. Green continued well until was eventually bowled by Peachey for a superb 62. Steve Peachey the old stalwart had wound back the years and produced a great spell ending with 3-44 off his 9 overs.

Matching were on a precarious 153 for 6 with just 10 overs left when Mark Keefe strolled to the wicket ….another stalwart with years of experience. And he showed it by batting beautifully with Simon Wasley and then Paul Dawson to take Matching to 214-8 at the end ….would Keefe’s 39 not out be a game changer?..did Dawson hit the only 6 of the match? (yes..get the odds on that !!).

Abottson took 2-58 but Monk 1-49 and Baker 1-34 also bowled well. Matching in truth felt they were 40-50 runs short of what they had wanted.

Jason Green and Jonny Taylor opened the bowling for the Green and they kept it very tight although they could not remove either of the openers Ryan Naylor or H. Edwards. The introduction of Simon Hartnell and Paul Dawson changed the momentum of the game slowly in to Matching’s favour though. Hartnell had Naylor bamboozled, bowling him for 15 and then Jeeva lbw for 0. Dawson then had Edwards caught behind for a nice 33 and Baker caught at gully …things were starting to change quickly but Stansted still had plenty of time to get the runs needed.

Monk was looking dangerous and had the ability to bring his team home so a magnificent catch by Malyon at mid on off the bowling of Hartnell was a crucial point in the game. Dawson had Devoti caught at slip and Stansted were in trouble .

Green was brought back on and mopped up the tail with Patrick Deehan having Hart caught behind to take his first League wicket for Matching. Matching had bowled Stansted out for 152 and won by 72 runs, in truth it seemed a closer match than that. Green took 3-27, Hartnell 3-28 and Dawson 3-40.

With Nazeing beating Ilford Catholic by losing fewer wickets Matching and Nazeing are both 5 from 5 and top of Division one.

Matching Green are away at Ilford Catholic this week which will be another tough match indeed .