The 1st XI got their league campaign off to a good start with a 109-run win over Loughton. Hanko’s unbeaten 140* and braces galore with the ball saw us secure 20 points.

Five of our six bowlers all took two wickets, with Marc Whitlock’s first victim marking his 600th wicket in the Play-Cricket era*.

The 2nd XI went down at home to Gidea Park & Romford by 47 runs despite looking on course for victory at 176/4.

Peanut led the way with the bat with 47 after Billy (3-38) and Freddie B (3-55) combined to bowl the visitors out.

The 3rd XI suffered a cruel one-run defeat at Harold Wood, with a stumping off the penultimate ball ending the chase.

Stan impressed with the ball, returning figures of 3-54, whilst Shehzad, Connor H and Lakshya all took two wickets.

Stan (57) and Myles (79) put on 118 for the third wicket as we looked set to chase down last season’s champions, but a flurry of wickets saw the game go down to the wire.

Daffy hit a 27-ball 50 to take the game into the final over and, with 10 required, we could only manage nine to come up agonisingly short.

The 4th XI started their campaign with a three-wicket win over neighbours Hornchurch Athletic at Cromer Road.

The wickets were largely shared by the younger members of the side, with Nathan B (3-7), Charlie L (3-13) and Connor B (2-23) helping to bowl Athletic out for 137. The average age of the wicket-takers was slightly skewed by the evergreen Tommy F taking 2-28.

A strong start of 46-0 soon became 59-4 when it was our turn to bat, but skipper Ben and debutant Krishna both scored valuable 20s to take us closer to the target, before Fletch saw us over the line.

A youthful 5th XI enjoyed a six-wicket win over Harold Wood at Emerson Park, with the younger players playing a pivotal role in the victory.

Ollie F took his first-ever five-for (5-11), finding himself on a hat-trick twice, whilst Charlie B took two in two — his first league wickets in senior cricket.

In reply, Lance’s watchful 27 and Usama’s slightly quicker 30 moved us close to the target with overs to spare, but it was two U13s, Matthew B and Charlie, who took us home. Both batters finished 17* in a very pleasing victory.

The 1st XI bowed out of the ECB National Cup on Sunday as we went down by seven wickets to a very good Horsford side.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, none of the batsmen could really get going and, despite Les’ 44 and others chipping in, we were only able to post 184.

The Norfolk-based visitors found batting slightly easier and raced to victory in the 32nd over. We wish them the very best of luck in the next round.

*Whitlock has taken many, many more wickets that aren't on PlayCricket.