If there was ever a side you would like to play in your final game of the season to gain promotion, you would choose Westcliff.
Needing only two points to move back into Division 1, we knew we needed a quick start to put them under pressure and to cast aside any doubts we might have. Jamie Walton won the toss and put the home side in to bat, knowing that taking five wickets would seal the deal. Reaching 24 at almost a run a ball was the highlight of their innings as they went into total capitulation. Sam Bear had an opener caught smartly by Sarthak Kohli in the fifth over, then Ollie Todd took two wickets in the next over to suddenly have the hosts at 25-3. Sam bowled a wicket maiden in the seventh over, then waited 12 balls before taking his third.
Calamitous casual running at the end of the 10th over saw a direct hit from the skipper run-out a batsman more intent on conserving energy than protect his wicket to leave Westcliff on 32-6. Sam's bowling was too hot for batsmen 8 & 9 as they were both bowled from the second ball they faced to give him his second five-wicket haul of the season (5.4-2-16-5) in the 11th over. Ollie took his third wicket in the 12th over before Sam mopped up the innings with the fifth batsman to see his stumps demolished halfway through the 13th over, claiming his sixth wicket and see a sorry Westcliff side bowled out for 40. Promotion had been secured inside 45 minutes of the match, whilst their innings took just 73 minutes.
Batsman and Players Player of the Year Theo Robinson (30 n.o) and Joey Newbould (14 n.o) took just six overs to complete Westcliff's humiliation. Such was their ineptness, they couldn't even hang around for tea as they either went home or went to watch their 3rd XI, who, hopefully, put on a better display. They also removed the live stream from play-cricket, though (at the time of writing), it is still available on YouTube.
Captain Jamie Walton announced his retirement in the dressing room afterwards, in a tearful display of emotion. Leading his side to promotion was one of his proudest moments and he leaves the club with pride and satisfaction.
It later emerged that Oakfield Parkonians scraped over the line at home to Old Brentwoods to secure the title, but we're not greedy. Congratulations to Theo (725 runs), and Sam (31 wickets) on their individual awards and to everyone who played in the team this season. Here's to 2027. UP THE SHEN!!!!!!!
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