On a warm and sunny afternoon at the Green, Matching won the toss and given a nice batting track had no hesitation in batting first. James Malyon and Jack Scantlebury opened the batting and were kept in check somewhat by the veteran Dave Smith. The youngster Sam Hill toiled away at the other end and was rewarded when Malyon was superbly caught one handed at deep square leg by his brother Liam Hill for 14.
Scantlebury (28) and Tom Figg (19) soon also went, but Dan Sibley was scoring at an alarming rate at the other end and when the 3rd wicket fell Matching were already 139 off just 19 overs. Sibley continued to bat freely and smashed the ball to all parts before being caught in the deep for 76.
Simon Hartnell joined Jason Green and the two batted beautifully together with an unbroken partnership of 201 in just 21 overs. Green batted masterfully for his 95 not out and Hartnell smashed it to all parts at the end of his innings to end on 108 not out …two club records falling in the process with Hartnells the highest score by a number 6 in the Club's history and the 201 unbroken partnership being the highest ever at the Club for the 5th wicket.
Matching had amassed 365-4 off their 45 overs. The youngster Sam Hill was the pick of the bowlers returning 2-73 off his 10 overs .
Charlie Bass and Jason Green opened the bowling and Bass soon had Liam Hill caught behind for 0. Paul Dawson came on to bowl and had Craig Scherer out for 22 in his first over to a nice catch by Scantlebury. Rob Lane was then joined by the impressive youngster Matthew Shields and they put on 53 before Lane was caught behind by Harry Lees (being one of his 4 dismissals in the match) off the bowling of Matty Taylor for a well made 60. Dawson then polished off the rest of the batting , finishing with 5-44 off his 10. Charlie Bass took 2-32.
South Loughton were 169 all out in the 33rd over .
Matching are now 9 wins from 9 and top at the half way stage but there is a long way to go in this season and with Stansted having won their last 7 completed matches the match next week between the two sides at the Green will be an important one .