Brentwood Sport
Weald pull off miracle escape
2:48pm Thursday 2nd September 2010
CRICKET: South Weald dramatically secured their T Rippon League division two status with a tense final day victory over Canvey Island at Sandpit Lane on Saturday.
Weald went in to the game needing to win and hope rivals Springfield lost, while a loss meant definite relegation. The coin came down in favour of Canvey and Weald went into bat first.
Skipper Adam Chambers and Joe Courts batted patiently and the first wicket partnership grew to exactly 100 before Chambers was LBW for 39.
Courts continued unperturbed as he was joined by Michael Davey. With both players peppering the short boundary on a regular basis, the scoring rate increased as Weald began to take control. Davey was bowled for a powerful and crucial 44, but Courts provided the backbone of the innings as he marched to a magnificent century, notching 106 before being caught as Weald pushed up to 242-5 after their 45 overs.
Weald heaped the pressure on Canvey from the start and the biggest threat now seemed to be the weather. With 12 overs left and the game virtually won with Canvey at 85-6, a heavy shower forced the players off. News was filtering through that Springfield had lost, but by the time the pitch had dried sufficiently for a resumption the light was on the wane. With spin at both ends, Weald completed the vital victory just as the light closed in as Canvey finished 110-8.
After being dead and buried six weeks ago after one win in 12 games, Weald won five of their last six games to sneak to safety.