Smith purring after batting display

Hornchurch captain Roy Smith felt the batting display of his side against Ilford at Valentines Park demonstrated their strength in yesterday evenings Dukes Essex T20 Group H match.

The Division One outfit racked up 230-4 from their 20 overs with Max Osborne and Paul Walter both hitting exactly 50 and Smith smashing 65 not out – his highest score of the campaign.

Although their Premier Division opponents fielded a weakened team, the batting of his side still impressed Smith.

He was thrilled to put the disappointment of Sunday’s defeat to Brentwood in the National Cup behind them by progressing into the quarter-finals following a 125 run victory.

Smith said: “Our score did the job. Okay if it was a Saturday game we probably wouldn’t want to play on that wicket, it is that bad, but Ilford have short boundaries and we maximized it.

“After Sunday’s disappointment it was good that all the lads got in there and scored heavily.

“The strength we have in our batting line-up was demonstrated, one upped the tempo after another.

“Sunday’s defeat to Brentwood was disappointing but today was a different day and hopefully we can continue this form in the next round. I think we have Wanstead away so hopefully we can win that and get into finals day.”

Smith went on to discuss the tricky wicket and the performance of Mark James, who ended with 5-14 off his four overs.

James has largely been playing for Hornchurch’s second team this year but always been selected for T20 clashes.

“We are well pleased with the result. We come over, looked at the wicket and thought it was a bit iffy,” admitted Smith.

“I thought we’d bat first on it and it was a bit fruity but fortunately we batted well and got a good score on the board.”

He added: “Young Mark James has done well, he had a good season last year and has been on the fringes of the ones.

“He is in good form in the twos at the moment and to get a five-wicket haul in a T20 is fantastic, that is great and I am really pleased for him.”