WEEKEND RESULTS - 19/20 APRIL
1st Team v Old Souths (A) - Friendly - Old Souths won by 18 runs
Old Souths - 254/4 (45)
OTCC - 236/7 (45)
Highlights - Alex Brazier 69. Shahid Mushtaq 67, George Pavitt 3-28

The 1's fell just short despite a spirited showing with the bat at Old South's in the final pre-season friendly before the 1st Round of the League next Saturday.

]The hosts batted first and put up a highly competitive 255/4 off their 45 overs, with George Pavitt the pick of the bowlers for the visitors with 3-28, as the Oats struggled to pick up regular wickets. in response, an excellent opening partnership of 140 between Alex Brazier and Shahid Mushtaq set a platform to chase down their target. Still, regular wickets after that meant they fell 18 runs short.

2nd Team v old Souths (H) - Friendly - Orsett & Thurrock won by 67 runs
OTCC - 135/9 (40)
Old South's 68 All out
Highlights - Louie Collins 61 and 2-22, Haydn Owen 4-4 (6)

The 2's wrapped up what was eventually a convincing win against a team they will be competing against in the league this season, despite what appeared to be an under-par total at the halfway stage. After falling to 40/5 at drinks, and 64/8 shortly after, the 2's rallied to 135/9 on a slow deck and outfield thanks to an excellent 9th wicket partnership of 71 between Louie Collins (61) and Haydn Owen (6*) dragged the 2's up to a score of sorts.

A fast start with the ball saw the visitors under pressure thanks to early wickets from Harry Fogg (2-23), backed up by Louie Collins (2-22), and a fantastic spell from Haydn Owen of 4-4 from 6 overs, which ripped the heart out of the visitors' batting. The 2's eventually coasted to a convincing 67-run win, with Ashton Flood picking up the final wicket.

3rd Team v Wickham Park (H) - Friendly - Orsett & Thurrock won by 76 runs
OTCC - 136/9 (40)
Wickham Park - 60 All out
Pitch 2 effectively mirrored Pitch 1 on Saturday, with the 3's affecting another Lazarus-like win when it looked like they were well short with the bat. It was only 60 from debutante Tharusha Ratnayake that dragged them to 136/9 from their 40 overs, but just like the 2's on Pitch 1, it proved to be far too many for the visitors thanks to an excellent bowling and fielding performance.

Sunday 1's v Abridge (A) - Friendly - Orsett & Thurrock won by 28 runs
OTCC - 238/9 (40)
Abridge - 210 All out
An excellent win for the Sunday 1's against a strong Abridge XI bodes well for the upcoming season. Batting first, runs for Finley Barton (48), Braden Wren (39), and 31 apiece for the two Harrys, Fogg and Dove, made the backbone of a good 1st innings total.
With the ball, regular wickets from Hiran Solanki (3-27), Rahib Imtiaz, (2-41), Ollie Steele (2-42), and Billy Chandler (2-53) kept the hosts in check, allowing the Sunday 1's to run out comfortable victors by 28 runs.

Sunday 2's v Newham (H) - Newham won by 61 runs
Newham - 266/7 (40)
OTCC - 205/9 (40)
Highlights - Will Persechino 43, Hayden Westerman 35, Ollie O'Carroll 3 wickets
The Sunday 2's fought gamely, but were ultimately outclassed by a strong Newham side, but can take pride in good contributions from Will Persechino, who made a personal best 43, and a well-made 35 from Hayden Westerman; plus 3 wickets from Ollie O'Carroll with the ball.