Belhus Cricket Club

Gavin Jefferies has broken the club's long-standing record for the highest number of runs scored in a season, surpassing records previously held by Richard Day and Wayne Read.

18 years old Gavin, another successful 'product' of our Youth Scheme, scored his maiden century only earlier this season and then added another two to his list - along with 15 fifties for good measure. To reach 1987 runs in a season is an impressive achievement indeed. Congratulations Gavin.

Since the club was founded in 1960, the month of September has produced a number of playing records by both individuals and teams including:-

- 10 for 18 by Albert Braybrook v Heathcotians CC 1961
- 9 for 31 by Robert Waters (pictured) v Rettendon CC 1977
- 9 for 45 by Paul Dowsett v Hutton CC 1980
- Hat trick by Richard Harvey v Little Thurrock CC 1981
- 84* by Richard Dopson v Havering-atte-Bower CC 1999 (the record score by a No. 10 batsman)
- 158 by Wayne Read v Basildon & Pitsea CC 1997 (the record score for the 1st XI)

- All 1st XI batsmen clean-bowled v Orpington CC 1998
- 1st XI dismissed for 27 v Laindon CC 1963
- Club record 9th wicket partnership of 162* by Richard Dopson and Francis Baptiste for the 2nd XI v Havering-atte-Bower CC 1999

Now should any member or members either equal or exceed any of the above individual performances during this month, the President will present them with a well-deserved bottle of Veuve Clicquot.

Owen Jefferies became the first Belhus bowler to take 50 wickets this season when he bagged 4 for 63 against Woodford Green CC on 15th August. Although WG rattled up 276 for 8 in this Shepherd Neame Essex League match, our 2nd XI made a superb attempt in reply as Ben Marns smashed 91 and Scott Bayford stroked 59. We closed on 265 for 7, just 11 runs short of what would have been a record run- chase.

14 years old Owen became the youngest player in the club's history to take 50 wickets in a season in senior matches. A great performance. Well done OJ.

Against Ongar CC on 22nd August at North Stifford, our 2nd XI openers, skipper Tom Thompson and Gavin Jefferies, notched up yet another club record.

Chasing an Ongar total of 212, Tom and Gavin continued their good batting form this season and reached the required target in just 34 overs. Tom's 113 was his third league century of the season, and Gavin maintained his consistency with a fine 84 as together they surpassed the club's highest score for a 10 wickets win.

Another great performance by Belhus batsmen.

Over the past week, batsmen in all of our XIs have continued their rich run of form, producing one of the club's best ever seasons for run-scoring.

In the Shepherd Neame League matches against Ongar CC, Richard Day produced his first century (103) of the season and opener Chris Didd (pictured) cracked 65. The 2nd XI saw skipper Tom Thompson (113) and Gavin Jefferies (84) break the club record for the highest total for a 10 wickets win with a partnership of 213. Stuart Morris made an impressive 89 against Billericay for the 3rd XI, whilst Matthew Dinley's 51 aided the 4th XI's win over Billericay to secure their well-deserved Runners-Up slot in the League.

Gavin Jefferies added another fifty to his season's collection when he chalked up 85 against Hayes in Kent, and in the match against Locksbottom, also in Kent, veteran Wayne Read notched up 101 to ease our Mid-Week XI to victory.

Across all teams, 2009 has already seen in excess of 100 individual scores of 50 or more (including 14 centuries). Hopefully, we will see many more before the season finishes.

Our bowlers have had a tough time this season on the hard, flat wickets that have provided little assistance for them. But the last week has produced some excellent and well-deserved rewards for their toil.

It was Alfie Rowley who kick-started our bowlers' return to form. His excellent 6-over spell produced 5 for 15 in the match against Locksbottom for the Mid-Week XI. Kevin Harber laboured for 21 overs for his 3 wickets in the 1st XI match against Ongar, and Rob Long enjoyed an impressive stint of 5 for 11 in the Sunday 1st XI win over Hayes in Kent.

For the 4th XI, the spin of Cliff Cansdale produced the second '7 for' of the season when he took 7 for 71 (from 19 overs) to secure a victory over Billericay and earn skipper Paul Whitlock's team the League Runners-Up slot.

The highlight of the season (so far) was perhaps the hat-trick by Chris Baker (pictured) in the League match for the 2nd XI against Ongar. His all-bowled hat-trick was the third occasion of the feat in senior matches in the club's history, being previously performed by Jim Robertson (1997) and Mandrake Kahn (1985). Well done Chris.

For Belhus batsmen, the fine weather weekend of 15th/16th August is believed to have been the most profitable on record. Some 6 different batsmen scored 50s and 1 stroked an excellent century.

15 years old Billy Winter led the way with his second century (117) of the season in the victory against South Loughton, and in the same match Bradley Walker struck some towering 6s in his hard-hitting 89. Ben Marns (91) and Scott Bayford (59) almost pulled off a big run-chase for the 2nd XI against Woodford Green, and Steve Huckstepp (64) almost steered the 1st XI to victory in the corresponding match at North Stifford. Almost, almost.............

Roy Heffernan (pictured) also fell just short of a century in making 95 in the 2nd XI fixture against Dartfordians, although his effort gained him senior membership of the prestigious Belhus CC '90s Club'.

Jabir Sarwar notched up another half-century (69) for the 4th XI, as his fine effort saw us to a comfortable win over Brentwood to hoist skipper Paul Whitlock's team to 2nd in the Shepherd Neame League table.

A memorable weekend. Congratulations to all.

The 3rd XI's win in the Shepherd Neame Essex League match against Southend-on-Sea CC on 1st August produced a couple of new club records.

After dismissing Southend for 140 (Mike Squires 4 for 27, Rob Long 3 for 27), the Ben Marns and Richard Dopson impressive opening partnership of 143 was a new record for the 3rd XI, as too was the victory margin of 10 wickets.

Much to the delight of skipper Paul Hall, Richard thumped 54 and Ben smashed 72 to see us home in style in just 25 overs - one of the most convincing victories in the history of our 3rd XI.

See the full scorecard under the FIXTURES section of our website.

Belhus Cricket Club has been working hard in local schools providing cricket coaching for those with special needs, during the 2009 school summer term. From May until mid-July, Ian Wright has been the lead coach at Treetops School in Grays and Beacon Hill school in South Ockendon.

Ian has been assisted at Beacon Hill by Cliff Cansdale and, for the final week, we were ably assisted by Jan West of Brentwood Cricket Club, part of the Essex Cricket Board's "family" of coaches and clubs carrying through the growing special needs coaching throughout the County.

Belhus CC and its coaches would like to thank Essex Cricket Board and the "Cricket for Change" charity for providing valuable support and additional coach training while special thanks must go to the staff and pupils of Treetops and Beacon Hill for their very warm welcome throughout the extensive coaching programme.

In July, Belhus CC arranged for Beacon Hill pupils to visit Essex CCC for the first day's play in the County Championship match with Glamorgan. A visit to the Essex CCC Museum and Indoor Cricket Centre was also arranged. Please see our Photo Gallery for photographs from Essex CCC and Beacon Hill school.

The 1st XI's Shepherd Neame Essex League match against Southend-on-Sea CC on 20th June produced an impressive record winning run chase.

On the consistently reliable track at North Stifford, Southend naturally chose to bat first and notched up an 275 for 2 - a score that could easily have been exceeded had it not been for Billy Winter's spell of 5 overs for 11 runs.

In the club's 50-year history, such a score had not previously been successfully chased, but sensible batting down the order saw us home with 9 balls to spare and Scott Bayford (pictured) top-scoring with 53 not out.

A marvellous effort.