There were a number of memorable playing performances in 2011 - the club's most successful season - and all of our Saturday XIs performed magnificently in their campaigns in the Shepherd Neame Essex Premier League. Their final placings were:
1st XI - 2nd
(4th in 2010)
2nd XI - 1st
(4th in 2010)
3rd XI - 4th
(7th in 2010)
4th XI - 6th
(Winners of division below in 2010)
5th XI - 2nd
(First year in 'Friendly' league)
Both the 1st XI (under the captaincy of Wayne Read) and the 2nd XI (who achieved their first championship title since 1991 under skipper Chris Baker) gained promotion. The 5th XI finished Runners-Up in their Division under the captaincy of Barry Ruck and were undefeated - and they actually won their match against the eventual champions.
Despite having won all 7 of their scheduled 10 matches in the Spa-Tec Essex Sunday League (under the captaincy of Joe Joyce) and comfortably defeating the eventual winners, we finished Runners-Up in the East Division (3rd in 2010). Clearly the 3 rain-abandoned matches cost us the title.
Wayne Read (left) and Chris Baker
Saturday 1st and 2nd XI Captains
So the weather had a big say in our near-misses in 2011,
a season in which it is thought that more matches were abandoned and/or cancelled than in any other season in the club's history. But we still played a lot of cricket and organised, overall, more matches for our junior and senior teams than any other club in the borough.
Indoor success
We enjoyed success during the winter months in the various indoor competitions organised by the
South Essex District Cricket Board.
We were:
Winners of the Sunday Sixes Seniors Competition
Winners of the Midweek Sixes Seniors Competition
Winners of the Under 14A Sixes Competition
Winners (Belhus 'A') of the Under 12s Sixes Competition
PiriPiri Race
In the PiriPiri sponsored 'Race to 500 Runs' that was open to all players in all clubs in the Shepherd Neame Essex League, three of our batsmen (Gavin Jefferies, Joe Joyce and Danny Joyce) finished in the Top Ten - another near miss for us. The winner was Roy Smith of Ardleigh Green CC.
Our Bowlers
As in 2010, Cliff Cansdale (who made his playing debut for the club in 1971) was again our leading wicket-taker. His 59 wickets (93 in 2010) cost just 14.68 apiece. Including Cliff, 4 of our bowlers (6 in 2010) took 50 wickets in the season - Billy Winter (54 at 21.44), Owen Jefferies (50 at 18.54) and Dale Kenyon (50 at 18.74) - and it was Owen's third successive season in taking 50 wickets.
It was also Owen Jefferies' third successive season in taking more than 30 wickets in SNEL,
and Dale Kenyon crowned a fine season as the leading wicket-taker in Division Three (1st XIs) in SNEL, finishing overall 10th in the entire Essex League.
In all matches, 22 '5-fors' (24 in 2010) were taken by our bowlers, five of which were recorded by Cliff Cansdale. And Scott Stonham, in his first season with the club, put in the season's best bowling performance with 6 for 17 for the 4th XI against Buckhurst Hill CC in SNEL. Skipper Barry Ruck featured on three occasions in the Top Ten bowling performances in the 5th XI 's Division in SNEL, and Theeban Tavarasa was the leading wicket-taker in the Essex Sunday League (East Division) with 17 wickets at an average of 8.29.
Our Batsmen
Only 2 (4 in 2010) of our batsmen (Joe Joyce and Danny Joyce) reached 1,000 runs this season and 17 years old Joe became the first Belhus player to pass the 2,000-runs-in-a-season milestone. His 3 centuries and 14 fifties gave him a total of 2,038 runs, passing the previous record of 1,987 set by Gavin Jefferies in 2009.
In the SNEL Division Three (1st XIs), the three leading run-scorers were Danny Joyce, Joe Joyce and Gavin Jefferies. And in the entire Essex League, Joe ranked 5th overall (unplaced in 2010) and Gavin ranked 8th overall (4th in 2010). Scott Bayford finished as the second highest run-scorer in the SNEL Division Three (2nd XIs).
In the Essex Sunday League, and despite losing three matches due to rain, Joe Joyce was still the leading run-scorer in the East Division with 497 runs at an average of 71.00.
A total of 17 centuries (24 in 2010) were scored by 11 batsmen (19 in 2010), the season's highest individual score being made by Danny Joyce with 172 not out in the SNEL match against Woodford Green CC on 13th August.
8 of our batsmen (the same as in 2010) made scores in the 90s and four players - Connor Elliott, Ryan Wells, Joe Joyce and Danny Joyce - became new members of our prestigious 90s Club.
4 wickets in 4 balls
In the Under 11s match against Pegasus & Corringham CC on 10th July, Joe Dalton not only joined the Belhus CC Hat Trick Club, but he took 4 wickets in 4 balls and became only the third bowler in the club's history to perform the feat - after Bob Garner in 1977 and Owen Jefferies in 2008. And in his fantastic achievement, he clean-bowled all his victims. Well done Joe.
Joe Dalton
Record team score and aggregate total
The pitch at North Stifford Village Green lived up to its reputation in the 1st XI's SNEL match against Woodford Green CC on 13thAugust. We batted first and rattled up a club record innings total of 399 for 5 from our 50 overs - easily beating the previous record score of 346 (v Happisburgh CC in 2010) thanks primarily to a masterly innings by Danny Joyce of 172 not out, the club's fifth highest ever individual score.
And in reply, Woodford Green made their contribution to a memorable day by scoring 286 all out - thus making the match
aggregate number of runs of 685 a new club record.
Club record team total
1st XI v Woodford Green CC
Lashings World XI
After months of detailed organising, we were pleased to be the first club in South Essex to challenge the Lashings World XI on 10th June in front of a crowd of 600. We did reasonably well in restricting Lashings to 256 for 6, but our spirited response of 172 for 8 saw us fall short of the target by 84 runs. Paul Bennett won the man-of-the-match award for his innings of 81, 3 wickets and 1 catch.
After a marquee lunch that was attended by some 200 guests, Henry Blofeld provided his inimitable live match commentary,
and we were pleased to raise funds for St Luke's Hospice and the Belhus CC youth section.
The Lashings team was: James Marshall (New Zealand), Ian Harvey (Australia), Ian Butler, (New Zealand), Phil DeFreitas (England, Capt), Wasim Jaffer (India), Jimmy Admas (West Indies), Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan), John Emburey (England), Ed Giddins (England), Mohammed Akram (Pakistan), Devon Malcolm (England).
Lashings World XI
with Life Vice President Richard Marns
Seven Belhus bowlers took wickets
In the midweek match against Ashmanhaugh CC (on tour from Norfolk), and in dismissing our visitors for 131, no less than
seven Belhus bowlers each took a wicket. This is thought to be a record.
Youngest batsman to score a century
At 14 years 256 days, Jake Wolfe became the youngest batsman to score a century in a Belhus senior match when scoring 101 not out for the 4th XI against South Woodford CC on 9th July - and he notched up his second ton two weeks later. Fantastic.
Record equal 5 stumpings in an innings
In our second match of the season, Michael Fogg took 5 stumpings for the 2nd XI against Rayleigh CC to equal the record set by Paul Huckstepp in 2001. In dismissing Rayleigh for 136, Michael's victims were snared off four different bowlers and we won by 6 wickets.
Michael Fogg
Record equalling 5 stumpings
in an innings
The young and the not-so-young
The Sunday 2nd XI match at North Stifford Village Green against Thurrock CC on 31st July, saw veteran Jim Banner (on his birthday) with 102, and young Jake Wolfe with 104*, register just the fourth instance of two centuries being scored in a Belhus innings.
Best win of the season?
There were many convincing victories during 2011 including three 10 wickets victories (by the 5th XI v Orsett CC, the Saturday 2nd XI v Woodford Green CC and the Under 15s v Orsett CC) as well as the 199 runs win by the Sunday 2nd XI v Thurrock CC.
But it was perhaps the 4th XI victory over Basildon & Pitsea CC in SNEL on 20th August that took the prize for the finest win of the season. After being dismissed for a mere 87 in 27 overs (skipper Barry Ruck top-scoring with 23), our chances looked slim on a true pitch at South Ockendon Recreation ground. But youngsters Sam Hall and Jack Martin-Hussey bowled tight lines by taking 4 and 3 wickets respectively and we dismissed B & P for 48 (also in 27 overs) to give us a 39 runs victory.
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New Records 2011
Most Runs in a Season
2,038 - Joe Joyce
First Batsman to Score 2,000 Runs in a Season
Joe Joyce
Record Highest Innings Total
399 for 5
1st XI v Woodford Green CC 13th August
Record Highest Aggregate Runs in a Match
685
1st XI 399 for 5 Woodford Green CC 286 all out
Equal Record Number of Scores Over 300 in a Season
4
399 for 5 - 1st XI v Woodford Green CC 13th August
345 all out - 1st XI v Basildon & Pitsea CC 31st July
338 for 9 - 1st XI v Ongar CC 21st May
301 for 7 - 1st XI v Benfleet CC 4th June
Equal Record Number of Stumpings in an Innings
5 - Michael Fogg - 2nd XI v Rayleigh CC 16th April
Youngest Batsman to Score a Century in a Senior Match
Jake Wolfe - 14 years 256 days
Record Fastest to 1,000 Runs
Joe Joyce - 18th June
Equal Record Number of Centuries in a Belhus Innings
2 - Jim Banner and Jake Wolfe 2nd XI v Thurrock CC 31st July
Oldest Bowler to Take 50 Wickets in a Season
Cliff Cansdale - 54 years 199 days
Equal Record 4 Wickets in 4 Balls
Joe Dalton - Under 11s v Pegasus & Corringham CC 11th July
Record Best Bowling for 5th XI
Barry Ruck - 5 for 22 v Hainault & Clayhall CC 30th July
Barry Ruck
Best bowling for 5th XI
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Other Highlights 2011
* Joe Joyce was our leading run-scorer for the second successive season
* Cliff Cansdale was our leading wicket-taker for the second successive season
* Owen Jefferies took 50 wickets for the third successive season
* We were winners of the SEDCB Veterans' Knock-Out Trophy
* 5 batsmen in our Sunday 2nd XI were dismissed for ducks in their match against Noak Hill CC on 24th September
* Wayne Read took four catches in an innings on two occasions - v Ashmanhaugh CC on 11th August and v Benfleet CC on 23rd July
and Martin Guilbert also took 4 in an innings - against Chingford CC on 9th April
* In the Under 11s match v Thurrock CC on 17th July, our fielders achieved 7 run-outs of Thurrock batsmen
* Tom Thompson and Steve Huckstepp were joint winners of the 'Most Cakes in a Season' competition
* In the Sunday 1st XI match against Abridge CC on 17th April, 12 Abridge players were on the field of play throughout the entire Belhus innings - without anyone realising!
* The narrowest victory margin in 2011 was 1 run - by our Under 13B team v South Weald CC on 31st July
* Coming on as 5th change bowler for the Sunday 2nd XI against South Weald CC on 24th July, Jake Wolfe took the last
3 wickets in 5 balls for 0 runs to win us the match
* Dale Kenyon was the leading wicket-taker in the Shepherd Neame Essex League Third Division (1st XIs)
* Danny Joyce was the leading run-scorer in the Shepherd Neame Essex League Third Division (1st XIs)
* Joe Joyce was the leading fielder in the Shepherd Neame Essex League Third Division (1st XIs)
* Mark Sansom was the leading fielder in the Shepherd Neame Essex League Third Division (2nd XIs)
* Theeban Tavarasa was the leading wicket-taker in the Essex Sunday League (East Division)
* Joe Joyce was the leading run-scorer in the Essex Sunday League (East Division)
Mark Sansom
Leading wicketkeeper in the SNEL Third Division (2nd XIs)
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Shepherd Neame Essex League
Umpires' and Opposition Assessments
In the 2011 Umpires' and Opposition Assessments of the 40 clubs in SNEL, we finished:
Winners of the Opposition Assessment 5th XI 'Spirit of Cricket/Discipline' Table
Runners-up in the Opposition Assessment 1st XI 'Spirit of Cricket/Discipline' Table
Winners of the Umpires' Assessment 1st XI 'Hospitality' Table
Runners-Up in the Umpires' Assessment 1st XI 'Spirit of Cricket/Discipline' Table
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'Player of the Year' Awards 2011
Josh Reynolds - Under 11s
Billy Maidment - Under 13s
Ryan Wells - Under 15s
Amit Gohil - Sunday 2nd XI
Theeban Tavarasa - Sunday 1st XI
Sam Hall - Saturday 5th XI
Rob Long - Saturday 4th XI
Cliff Cansdale - Saturday 3rd XI
Chris Baker - Saturday 2nd XI
Joe Joyce - Saturday 1st XI
Jake Wolfe - Most Improved Player of the Year
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Full details of all player performances can be found on the top menu of this website under . . .
Averages and Statistics.
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2011 2011
Review
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