Harold Wood217-7

Epping204-7

Essex League Division Three

EPPING continued to improve with a hard-fought drawn at Harold Wood.

Once again Epping lost the toss and were put into the field.

Opening bowlers Jon Everett and Si Oliver soon found their line and length and made it very difficult for the Wood batsmen to score.

Everett bowled 19 straight overs to take 1-47 while Oliver rattled up 18 on the trot to take 2-54.

The pair's excellent bowling reduced Wood to 116-6 but then things started to go wrong for Epping. A basketload of catches went down and Wood dangerman Mik Sewell went on to wreak havoc and his quickfire 66 n/o included a number of massive sixes.

From a position where Epping had been looking like bowling out Wood for under 150 the home side's end score of 217-7 was a massive achievement for them.

In reply Epping needed a good start and did not really get it with top five bats Webb, Farrar, Offord and Maynard all falling for single figure scores.

Man-of-the-match Si Oliver was proving to be an immovable rock at the top of the order however as he accumulated steadily.

He got good support from Phil Jackson in a brilliant seventh wicket partnership. The pair put on a hundred stand and were looking like taking Epping to a brilliant victory.

But when Oliver went for an excellent 77 the runs dried up somewhat. Jackson carried on the fight, striking a brilliant 51 n/o but time was not on Epping's side.

They were forced to settle for the draw just 13 adrift of Wood's total.EPPING continued to improve with a hard-fought draw at Harold Wood. Once again Epping lost the toss and were put into the field.

Opening bowlers Jon Everett and Si Oliver soon found their line and length and made it very difficult for the Wood batsmen to score, with Everett bowling 19 straight overs to take 1-47 while Oliver rattled up 18 overs on the trot to take 2-54.

The pair's excellent bowling had reduced Harold Wood to 116-6 and things were looking good for the visitors who are still chasing their first victory. But then things started to go wrong.

A clutch of catches went down and Wood danger-man Mik Sewell went on to wreak havoc, his quickfire 66 n/o including a number of imperious sixes.

From a position where Epping had been looking like bowling out Harold Wood for under 150 the home side's end score of 217-7 was a massive achievement for them.

In reply Epping needed a good start and did not really get it with top-five batsmen Webb, Farrar, Offord and Maynard all falling for single figure scores.

Man-of-the-match Si Oliver was proving to be an immovable rock at the top of the order however as he accumulated runs steadily and he got good support from Phil Jackson in a brilliant seventh-wicket partnership.

The pair put on a hundred in that stand and were looking like taking Epping to a brilliant victory.

But when Oliver went for an excellent 77 the runs dried up. Jackson carried on the fight, striking a brilliant 51 n/o, but time was not on Epping's side and they were forced to settle for the draw just 13 runs adrift of Wood's total.

July 11, 2002 12:00