BASILDON & PITSEA CRICKET CLUB
2007 followed on from where 2006 left off for The Basildon and Pitsea Cricket Club. The 1st XI finished 2nd in Division 2 and were promoted to the 1st Division, after just missing out in 2006. This is an achievement that would have been unthinkable at the turn of the millennium.
The 1st XI were led superbly by Michael Gray and won 13 of the 17 games the weather allowed them to complete. Kiran Sangani (521 runs @ 37) and Tanvir Alam (425 runs @ 42) led the way with the bat, but all of the batsmen made a contribution along the way. It was the bowling, however, which undoubtedly earned promotion for the ones. Seamer Steve Brown with 61 wickets at 12 a 45 piece and leg spinner Asif Abbas with 55 wickets at 10.80 were prolific, and were ably backed up by Lee Lewis with 25 wickets. Although there were manywonderful individual performances over the season, it was our great team ethic, and never say die attitude that was the difference between us finishing 2nd and 3rd. Our vital home games against rivals Woodford Wells and Fives & Heronians both appeared to be heading towards defeat but we ended up victors on both occasions. The 2008 season will undoubtedly be a test, but the whole club will be backing Michael and the rest of 1st XI to be successful once again.
Ian Anderson skippered the 2nd XI during their maiden season in Division 2. The ‘twos’ competed well all season and were in contention for promotion until the final few weeks of the campaign, and eventually finished 4th. The average age of the 2nd XI squad was well below 25 and this can only bode well for the future of the club. The leading performers with the willow were the ever consistent Paul ‘Elvis’ Singleton with 408 runs at 27.87 and Mike Blerkom with 308 runs at 44 (including a maiden ton for the club). Several of the other regular batters averaged in the low twenties and this is something that the people concerned will be looking to improve next year. With the ball, seamers Dan Bedford Chris Clarke Irons and Steve Ayres all chipped in with in excess of 20 wickets a piece. Promotion will be a very realistic ambition for the 2nds next year, who will be led for the first time by Chris Clarke-Irons.
Our 3rd XI competed on Division 2 again this year, and were led by Ian Tooke. The season was a real mixed bag with assortment of very good, and not some not so good performances, which resulted in a league position of 8th. Ian led the way with the bat, amassing 448 runs at 44.80, along with his 15-year-old son Phil, who scored 348 runs including a maiden century. Phil also took 20 wickets and looks a great prospect for the future. Young bowlers Dan Smith, Peter Robinson and Sean Healey chipped in with 20, 14 and 13 wickets respectively, and are looking very promising bowlers. Ian will continue to skipper the side in 2008 and with a bit more luck will hope to push for promotion.
The 4th XI were in the Premier league for the first time this year and struggled throughout and ended up winless in 9th position. Skipper Phil Murdoch missed a lot of the season through injury, and was a big loss for the side. John Bedford won the batsmen of the year award, and was supported well by ever consistent veteran John Bedford. One major plus was that a lot of youngsters got their first taste of adult cricket in 2007 and 15 year old Sean Healey won the bowling award. Chris Williams will captain the 4ths in 2008 and will hope to bounce straight back to the Premier league.
2008 promises to be a very exciting year on and off the pitch for BPCC and with several new skippers and committee members we hope to take the club on to even greater heights.