Old Chelmsfordians decided to bowl first after winning the toss.

The main men of previous games Sam Gravatt and Giggsy Milbank took to the stage and Sam G was looking good but unlucky to get a good yorker which he failed to spot and paid the price for being too aggressive and learned how cruel mistress that hall can be sometimes.

Gratty senior came in with the chance to reclaim himself as the better batsman out of him and his son. The outdoor captain was looking good before getting caught and bowled.

At 64-2 Giggs and Blackman were a good pair to have but Giggs soon retired and with Clarkey yet to arrive, time wasting was needed by AJ. He was unfortunate though with another good yorker so Giggs came back and carried on batting like the trojan that he is. No chances, just constant runs showing his experience in there.

In the penultimate over Blackman pulled his groin and got run out. Impressively this made him even slower than usual which no one thought was possible. OCs didn’t like it but Gratty swapped to run the last over with lone man Giggs which got them up to 123.

With only 5 and an injured Blackers it looked best for the big man to keep which again OCs did not like. Clarkey arrived just in time to bowl the first over and 5 dots was exactly what the doctor ordered. Giggsy then struck in his first over finding an edge which was well taken by the poorman’s Alec Stewart. Very well walked by the OCs batsman should also be added.

Gratty jnr then came on and was clearly nervous about something as it was a bad day in the office for the young scholar, this meant that AJ got thrown the ball and did not disappoint. A fantastic spell of 3 overs for just 12 runs won the game for Aythorpe. He put the breaks on and made the batsmen chase after the other bowlers. He was unlucky not to get himself a wicket  and left OCs with a big task from the last few overs.

It was still possible with one over left but the senior pro AC made sure they did not get close bowling a pressure last over very tightly.

This week but for the first time in ARCC history Graham Milbank gets man of the match in consecutive games, with another big not out, 55 this week he is the man to get out in there.
G Milbank 55 no
G Milbank 3 overs 3 for 22