Drayton v Ashmanhaugh 17th June 2006

Ashmanhaugh 272-2 (B. Everett 100*, T. Watson 123) Drayton 263-7 (J. Sutton 127*) A humid day at Drayton Rec, a wonderful batting track and greased lightning outfield combined to produce the highest match aggregate runs tally ever achieved on the ground, surpassing the 522 scored in the 'A' teams victory over Rollesby 'A' six years earlier. The visitors won the toss and hardly surprisingly batted. Unfortunately, a sloppy first hour which included three dropped catches let Ashmanhaugh get off to a flying start. Bernie Everett (100*) and Thomas Watson (123) combined in a second wicket partnership of 231 with Drayton rarely managing to stem the flow. Despite the final total of 272-2, off spinner Phil Soanes bowled a testing spell - his figures of 12-2-59-0 not doing him justice as two catches were spilt off his bowling.

In reply, Drayton had little choice but to play their shots in an attempt to get close. John Sutton and Philip Wright (33) added 87 for the first wicket in 19 overs, before Wright was caught in the gully. Andy Hawes fell to a fine one handed catch shortly after, which, with Mike Sutton and Saul Simpson nursing injuries left Drayton with little choice but to send the "pinch hitters" in. Gary Smith (24), Stewart Forton (20 - including trade mark straight six) and Gary Foreman (11) all joined Sutton in raising the total close to the target. Sutton reached his third hundred for the club, with only his second six and despite some brave running near the end, Drayton fell nine runs short. The visitors star with the ball, despite not taking a wicket, was left armer Stuart Warminger who conceded just 41 runs from his 12 overs and was not dominated by any of the batsman. Credit also to groundsman, James Kay on an immaculate pitch, which by the end of Drayton's innings on Sunday had produced 732 runs in 130 overs, with just 8 wickets falling to bowlers (5 run outs as well!).