After being dismissed for only 98 at Canvey Island, the new boys fought back well with the ball to win by 33 runs

Rainham captain Jas Hothi was pleased to see his team come through a tough game at Canvey Island with another win in the T-Rippon Mid-Essex League Premier Division on Saturday.

The Spring Farm Park club made the trip to Essex looking to earn a third consecutive victory and managed it by 33 runs.

Batting first, Rainham could only make 97 with the bat, but bowled impressively to dismiss the hosts for 64.

Hothi said: “We knew it would be a tough game. We had seen some of the scores at Canvey and knew the toss would be important.

“We thought if we could get 120 or 130 we would win the game with the spinners we have got.

“Unfortunately Canvey’s opening bowlers did a really good job at the start and we struggled to get partnerships going, so at 98 all out I was not 100 per cent confident we would win.”

Rainham’s best score was extras with 31 as their batsmen failed to spend any significant time at the crease on a sweltering hot day.

Because Hothi’s team could used 30 overs of their alloted 45 overs, it allowed them a chance to bowl at Canvey Island before the game took a scheduled break to watch England vs Sweden in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

It was during this tricky period where Rainham arguably won the contest with Bhavik Patel taking five wickets to reduce Canvey to 37-7.

After play resumed following England’s win, Biren Patel did most of the damage and claimed three wickets to dismiss the hosts for 64.

Hothi added: “After being dismissed for 98, we had 20 overs to bowl at them before we took a break for the England game, but we were itching to get out there.

“I gave Bhavik the new ball and he didn’t disappoint. Not only were they struggling to score against him, they were struggling to survive.

“He bowled outstandingly and I knew when his 10 were up we needed someone else to step up and Biren did exactly that.

“I’ve said it before, in them two we have two of the best spinners in the league and they were brilliant.”