Essex Academy v Chris Gayle Academy | Sunday 28 August | Wanstead & Snaresbrook C.C.
Essex Academy took on the Chris Gayle Academy in their final fixture of the season in a 50-over clash at Wanstead & Snarebrook Cricket Club.
With the pitch and outfield showing the signs of the recent dry spell the Chris Gayle Academy (CGA) had no hesitation in electing to bat first.
Ben Allison 3-28 and William Gowler in his first game for the academy made early inroads to the CGA top order and after the first power play of 10 overs they were 38-3. Spin in the form of Ben Waring 4-42 and Luke Chapman enjoyed bounce and turn and saw the CGA slip to 86-7 after 23 overs. However, a good partnership of 89 saw the CGA finally finish with 221 all out and a challenging score to chase down. The academy would on reflection be please with their early efforts, but disappointed in letting the CGA off the hock mid innings.
In response, Rishi Patel 68 and Will Buttleman got the academy off to a positive start with 52 off 11 overs before Buttleman was out looking to hit over the top. Alistair Russell and Patel pushed the score over a hundred halfway through the 50-overs before both departed and the academy chase stalled with three more wickets going down to be 157-7 in the 34 over with the game evenly poised.
Coming in at number 7 in his first match for the Academy Robin Das 62 not out who is part of the Emerging players group played a gem of an innings and with the support of Stephen Heywood 27 no saw the Academy to victory in the 48 over.
Some good skills on show from both sides and a positive way to finish off the Academy 50-over season.
