BILLERICAY BLUE
Rose Tinted Brigade Member⭐⭐
With this seasons SZ BT Cup starting on Sunday, I thought I would try and give a bit of a run-down on the groups and teams.
GROUP A
Batty Shrimpers (managed by BB)
Current form - top of V.58 winning all 4 games, knocked out of cup at 3rd round stage.
One to watch - Philip Evelyn. 580 runs at 145 so far this season, as well as 9 catches and 2 stumpings.
Chances - Manager BB has already stated that "he's taking it seriously this season". Tough group, and once again drawn against Mrs BB's Dibs Dippers, but they could sneak 2nd place and advance to the knock-out stages.
Southend (managed by Museshrimper)
Current Form - top of IV 17, winning 3 of his 4 games, knocked out of cup at 4th round stage
One to watch - Robbie Lever. Right-arm quickie who has already taken 25 wickets this season at an average of under 14, twice taken 5 wickets in an innings including career best of 7-53
Chances - Must be favourite to win the group.
Rochford CC (managed by Birri)
Current Form - 2nd in V.10, won 3 out of 4, lost in the 2nd round of the Cup.
One to watch - Mick Seaman. Hard-hitting left-hander, has already scored 480 runs this season at better than a run a ball. 2 50's and 3 100's.
Chances - should get off to a winning start, will more than likely lose to Southend, all other games should be very close. Might just miss out on K/O stages.
Golden Green (managed by Da_Judge)
Current Form - 5th in V.116 having won 2 and lost 2, lost in 2nd round of Cup.
One to Watch - Clayton Hendro. 20yo West Indian medium-pacer. Taken 10 wickets at 26.7 so far this season.
Chances - Rank outsiders in this group, will do well to win a game.
Dibs Dippers (managed by Dibs)
Current Form - Bottom of IV.49 only winning 1 of their 4 games, lost in the 2nd round of the Cup.
One to watch - Manik Mohammed. 19yo RFM from India. 11 Wickets at under 20 so far this season, if he gets it right he can mangle any top-order.
Chances - Probably the most in-consistent team in the group, can lose to rubbish, and then thrash previously un-defeated teams. A lot rests on the shoulders of Potter and Stride with the bat, and Mohammed and Bradley with the ball. Will probably miss out on the quarters, although a win over Batty Shrimpers would make up for that.
N-trance shire (managed by felli17)
Current Form - top of V.44 having won all four games, unlucky to lose on countback in the 3rd round of the Cup, after tieing his game.
One to watch - Zema Cole. Experienced opening bat, has scored 426 runs this season whilst only being dismissed twice. 3 50's and 1 100 this season.
Chances - Will be there or thereabouts. Comfortable league should enable 'Trance to challenge strongly in this group.
Prediction - Southend to win the group, Batty Shrimpers greater strength in depth to sneak them 2nd from N-trance shire
GROUP B
Spikey Shrimpers (managed by SpikeyShrimp)
Current Form - 7th in V.88 having won only 1 game so far, lost in the 1st round of the cup.
One to watch - William McAndrew. Solid opener, Averages 45.5 this season including an undefeated 151.
Chances - Will struggle to reach the knock-out stages.
Whos your Daddy (managed by nicktye)
Current form - 1st in IV.11 with 100% record, reached round 4 of the cup.
One to watch - Fitzroy Anderson. South African all rounder, who averages 37 with the bat, and 16.2 with the ball.
Chances - Only IV side in the group, so should top it with ease. Anything could happen after that.
Squarepants (managed by spongebob)
Current Form - Top of VI.216 having won all 4 games, lost in 2nd round of the cup.
One to watch - Barry Lea****. Destructive opening bat, who has amassed 399 runs this season with a strike rate of 114. 1 50 and 2 100's including career best 143*
Chances - Morale is sky-high at the moment but will probably find a few of these a bit hot.
Muppet XI (managed by arefj)
Current Form - 3rd in V.125 but have only lost to leders Highland storm, knocked it in Round 2 of the cup.
One to watch - Lloyd Von hoesslin. Aussie blaster at the top of the order. Averages 109 at a strike rate of 109 with a top score of 111.
Chances - Decent top order and steady bowling, will be in the shake-up for 2nd in the Group.
Ateneintenn (managed by Richard_B)
Current Form - Leaders of V.134 having won 4 out of 4, reached the 2nd round of the Cup.
One to watch - Neil Hezeltine. Left arm FM bowler who has taken 13 wickets at just over 11, including career best figures of 5-28.
Chances - Well balanced side who have risen from VI last season to the top of their V this season, might not have quite enough firepower to make the quarters.
Leyland Fox Lane (managed by Jollypostie)
Current Form - 2nd in VI.72 only losing 1 game, failed to make it past the 1st round of the Cup.
One to watch - Fitz Allaway. Right arm FM has taken 18 wickets at 10, and takes a wicket every 13 balls.
Chances - Will struggle against some of these, shouldn't finish bottom though.
Prediction - Whos your Daddy to stroll the group, Muppet XI to beat Ateneintenn for 2nd.
GROUP C
Mullion Marauders (managed by ahalford)
Current Form - 6th in V.120 having lost 3 out of 4, knocked out of the cup in the 2nd round.
One to watch - Max Rose. Middle order bat who is qualified to play for both New Zealand and India. 211 runs at 70.33 so far this season.
Chances - will struggle against the big guns in this group, could be a battle with Ath Chorley to avoid the wooden spoon.
Ath Chorley (managed by pgoulding200)
Current Form - 6th in V.168 have only won game in the league and failed to make it past the 1st round of the Cup.
One to watch - Ben Black. 18yo spinner who could cause some problems if given a chance. Figures of 3-21 in his only career outing.
Chances - Wodden Spoon battle with Marauders, which they might not win !
Batricians of Malvern (managed by Simesdavies)
Current Form - 1st in V.131 with 100% record, lost in the 2nd round of the cup
One to watch - Shaun Symes. Australian quickie who has taken 18 wickets at under 10 including figures of 6-5.
Chances - too good for the small fry, not good enough to trouble the big boys.
General Stars (managed by TheGeneral)
Current Form - 4th in IV.2 winning 2 and losing 2, made it to round 4 of the cup.
One to watch - Dannie Titterton. South African middle order bat and LH Spinner. 624 runs and 14 wickets so far this season. the main man for General Stars.
Chances - will probably need to beat either OC's or Shimperzone to progress.
Old Chelmsfordians (managed by matthaig)
Current Form - 5th in IV.35, won 2, lost 2, reached the 5th round of the cup.
One to watch - Karl Dodd. Australian spinner who has taken 19 wickets at under 14.
Chances - Much will depend on the game against General Stars, winner goes to the Qf's, loser is probably out.
Shrimperzone CC (managed by BrockVH)
Current Form - 5th in IV.53 Winning and losing 2 games, reached round 4 of the cup.
One to watch - James Sutherland. Right arm FM, 28 wickets at 6.79 so far this season, taking 5 wickets in an innings 4 times.Will be the difference against most sides.
Chances - Superior bowling strength should see Shrimperzone CC top the group, and not many teams will fancy taking them on in the knock-out stages.
Prediction - Shrimperzone to win the group, toss-up between OC's and General Stars for 2nd.
GROUP A
Batty Shrimpers (managed by BB)
Current form - top of V.58 winning all 4 games, knocked out of cup at 3rd round stage.
One to watch - Philip Evelyn. 580 runs at 145 so far this season, as well as 9 catches and 2 stumpings.
Chances - Manager BB has already stated that "he's taking it seriously this season". Tough group, and once again drawn against Mrs BB's Dibs Dippers, but they could sneak 2nd place and advance to the knock-out stages.
Southend (managed by Museshrimper)
Current Form - top of IV 17, winning 3 of his 4 games, knocked out of cup at 4th round stage
One to watch - Robbie Lever. Right-arm quickie who has already taken 25 wickets this season at an average of under 14, twice taken 5 wickets in an innings including career best of 7-53
Chances - Must be favourite to win the group.
Rochford CC (managed by Birri)
Current Form - 2nd in V.10, won 3 out of 4, lost in the 2nd round of the Cup.
One to watch - Mick Seaman. Hard-hitting left-hander, has already scored 480 runs this season at better than a run a ball. 2 50's and 3 100's.
Chances - should get off to a winning start, will more than likely lose to Southend, all other games should be very close. Might just miss out on K/O stages.
Golden Green (managed by Da_Judge)
Current Form - 5th in V.116 having won 2 and lost 2, lost in 2nd round of Cup.
One to Watch - Clayton Hendro. 20yo West Indian medium-pacer. Taken 10 wickets at 26.7 so far this season.
Chances - Rank outsiders in this group, will do well to win a game.
Dibs Dippers (managed by Dibs)
Current Form - Bottom of IV.49 only winning 1 of their 4 games, lost in the 2nd round of the Cup.
One to watch - Manik Mohammed. 19yo RFM from India. 11 Wickets at under 20 so far this season, if he gets it right he can mangle any top-order.
Chances - Probably the most in-consistent team in the group, can lose to rubbish, and then thrash previously un-defeated teams. A lot rests on the shoulders of Potter and Stride with the bat, and Mohammed and Bradley with the ball. Will probably miss out on the quarters, although a win over Batty Shrimpers would make up for that.
N-trance shire (managed by felli17)
Current Form - top of V.44 having won all four games, unlucky to lose on countback in the 3rd round of the Cup, after tieing his game.
One to watch - Zema Cole. Experienced opening bat, has scored 426 runs this season whilst only being dismissed twice. 3 50's and 1 100 this season.
Chances - Will be there or thereabouts. Comfortable league should enable 'Trance to challenge strongly in this group.
Prediction - Southend to win the group, Batty Shrimpers greater strength in depth to sneak them 2nd from N-trance shire
GROUP B
Spikey Shrimpers (managed by SpikeyShrimp)
Current Form - 7th in V.88 having won only 1 game so far, lost in the 1st round of the cup.
One to watch - William McAndrew. Solid opener, Averages 45.5 this season including an undefeated 151.
Chances - Will struggle to reach the knock-out stages.
Whos your Daddy (managed by nicktye)
Current form - 1st in IV.11 with 100% record, reached round 4 of the cup.
One to watch - Fitzroy Anderson. South African all rounder, who averages 37 with the bat, and 16.2 with the ball.
Chances - Only IV side in the group, so should top it with ease. Anything could happen after that.
Squarepants (managed by spongebob)
Current Form - Top of VI.216 having won all 4 games, lost in 2nd round of the cup.
One to watch - Barry Lea****. Destructive opening bat, who has amassed 399 runs this season with a strike rate of 114. 1 50 and 2 100's including career best 143*
Chances - Morale is sky-high at the moment but will probably find a few of these a bit hot.
Muppet XI (managed by arefj)
Current Form - 3rd in V.125 but have only lost to leders Highland storm, knocked it in Round 2 of the cup.
One to watch - Lloyd Von hoesslin. Aussie blaster at the top of the order. Averages 109 at a strike rate of 109 with a top score of 111.
Chances - Decent top order and steady bowling, will be in the shake-up for 2nd in the Group.
Ateneintenn (managed by Richard_B)
Current Form - Leaders of V.134 having won 4 out of 4, reached the 2nd round of the Cup.
One to watch - Neil Hezeltine. Left arm FM bowler who has taken 13 wickets at just over 11, including career best figures of 5-28.
Chances - Well balanced side who have risen from VI last season to the top of their V this season, might not have quite enough firepower to make the quarters.
Leyland Fox Lane (managed by Jollypostie)
Current Form - 2nd in VI.72 only losing 1 game, failed to make it past the 1st round of the Cup.
One to watch - Fitz Allaway. Right arm FM has taken 18 wickets at 10, and takes a wicket every 13 balls.
Chances - Will struggle against some of these, shouldn't finish bottom though.
Prediction - Whos your Daddy to stroll the group, Muppet XI to beat Ateneintenn for 2nd.
GROUP C
Mullion Marauders (managed by ahalford)
Current Form - 6th in V.120 having lost 3 out of 4, knocked out of the cup in the 2nd round.
One to watch - Max Rose. Middle order bat who is qualified to play for both New Zealand and India. 211 runs at 70.33 so far this season.
Chances - will struggle against the big guns in this group, could be a battle with Ath Chorley to avoid the wooden spoon.
Ath Chorley (managed by pgoulding200)
Current Form - 6th in V.168 have only won game in the league and failed to make it past the 1st round of the Cup.
One to watch - Ben Black. 18yo spinner who could cause some problems if given a chance. Figures of 3-21 in his only career outing.
Chances - Wodden Spoon battle with Marauders, which they might not win !
Batricians of Malvern (managed by Simesdavies)
Current Form - 1st in V.131 with 100% record, lost in the 2nd round of the cup
One to watch - Shaun Symes. Australian quickie who has taken 18 wickets at under 10 including figures of 6-5.
Chances - too good for the small fry, not good enough to trouble the big boys.
General Stars (managed by TheGeneral)
Current Form - 4th in IV.2 winning 2 and losing 2, made it to round 4 of the cup.
One to watch - Dannie Titterton. South African middle order bat and LH Spinner. 624 runs and 14 wickets so far this season. the main man for General Stars.
Chances - will probably need to beat either OC's or Shimperzone to progress.
Old Chelmsfordians (managed by matthaig)
Current Form - 5th in IV.35, won 2, lost 2, reached the 5th round of the cup.
One to watch - Karl Dodd. Australian spinner who has taken 19 wickets at under 14.
Chances - Much will depend on the game against General Stars, winner goes to the Qf's, loser is probably out.
Shrimperzone CC (managed by BrockVH)
Current Form - 5th in IV.53 Winning and losing 2 games, reached round 4 of the cup.
One to watch - James Sutherland. Right arm FM, 28 wickets at 6.79 so far this season, taking 5 wickets in an innings 4 times.Will be the difference against most sides.
Chances - Superior bowling strength should see Shrimperzone CC top the group, and not many teams will fancy taking them on in the knock-out stages.
Prediction - Shrimperzone to win the group, toss-up between OC's and General Stars for 2nd.
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