Spring Farm Park outfit aim to close the gap between themselves and the top three this weekend
Rainham captain Jas Hothi knows his team are a match for anybody in Mid-Essex League Division One, but he isn’t getting carried away yet.
After winning by eight wickets at Ingatestone last Saturday, they host Springfield seconds this weekend and will look to close the gap between themselves and the top three.
Hothi’s men are fourth in the table and trailing leaders Canvey Island by 25 runs having played eight games in the division this season.
Although Rainham only gained promotion last year, they have always been confident of adapting to life at this level and are now dreaming of more success.
“We are not getting too ahead of ourselves because there is still a long way to go in the season,” said Hothi. “Our aim is to finish as high as possible, but we do want to reach the Premier Division eventually.
“After this weekend we would have played everybody in our league and I think we can be a match for anyone. There is a long way to go, we will take it one game at a time, but we need to keep producing the goods.
“We want to keep pushing and if it results in promotion then great, but if not we want to place as close to the top as possible.”
Rainham and Springfield played each other twice in Division Two last year and Hothi’s men won both by bowling out their rivals cheaply.
Springfield went up, however, after coming third and have also settled into life at a higher level fairly well, with four wins so far this year.
“To be fair to them they have done well since promotion, they’re sixth so we know it will be tough,” said Hothi.
“They certainly like to let you know they are up for it from the first ball so we will be ready. It is just about closing the gap between ourselves and the top three.
“We have some big games coming up. We play Canvey on Saturday week and Brookweald after, so hopefully we can build some momentum for those two matches.”
Once again, Jon O’Neill shone at the weekend with bat and ball. The all-rounder had smashed 86 and taken five wickets against Aythorpe Roding a week earlier and continued his form at Ingatestone.
He finished with 6-11 from his 9.4 overs with Dipal Patel taking 4-46 as the hosts were skittled for just 60. Rainham chased down their target inside 11 overs with Hothi unbeaten on 25 alongside O’Neill.
“I think we will start calling Jon the superstar!” joked Hothi. “He was phenomenal and it was probably the best I’ve seen him bowl.
“He didn’t give away any freebies and conceded nothing off his first three overs. He was unplayable and chipped in with 11 not out too.”
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