A Review of the 1986 Season
Overall 1986 proved a disappointing year with the First XI recording only three wins. However the bowling attack showed an improvement on recent years with seamers Dave Wilson and Paul Cross backed up by a spin trio of Richard MacGregor, Fraser Lawrence and Bob Wells, who marked his first season with the Club with a splendid 7-56 against Hadleigh. Our batting lacked consistency with the exception of Nigel Robinson who turned on the style with an unbeaten 147 against Southend which was part of a purple patch that saw him score over 1000 runs for the Club in July.
Our 2nd XI performed well under the captaincy of Jeff Runciman, and lost just one match but unfortunately also a great percentage of the tosses. Here Phil Joslin and Rashid Sheikh formed a formidable opening partnership throughout the year. Meanwhile Mike Higgs helped himself to over 50 League wickets.
Possibly the only consistent feature of the 3rd XIs was their inconsistency with brilliant victories followed by crushing defeats, and this reflected in our poor League showing.
The Club reached the final of the IDCA 20 Over knockout Cup, only to lose to Woodford Wells at Valentines Park on a Sunday morning, with the team leaving at 12.15 to play a Sunday A afternoon game on the same day !
However like any other year, 1986 had its moments:
· Peter Hall travelling all the way from Bournemouth (before the days of the M25) to play for the 3rd eleven at the London Transport Ground
· Nigel Robinson hitting 169 in the match in Saffron Walden’s Cricket Week – the fourth highest innings in Chingford history.
· Old Minchendenians celebrating a club record opening partnership at tea time. Our Extra Third XI knocked off their 218-0 with six overs to spare !
· Steve Hart taking six and seven wickets in consecutive Sunday A matches, and not getting a bowl the week after !
· Carey Harborne umpiring the IDCA 20 over knockout final. But would he get on the panel these days ?
· Mike Higgs not being satisfied with a mere 107 in the 2nd XI match with Walthamstow and going on to take 6 wickets
· Phil Joslin and Rashid Sheikh putting on over 200 for the first wicket against Wanstead 2nd XI
· Ian Hazelton breaking his arm attempting to take a catch in the Groundsman’s garden
· Maiden centuries for Michael Blake, Stuart McLean and Paul Pritchard