Ashmanhaugh 'A' v Drayton 'A' 3rd May 2008

Ashmanhaugh 'A' 165 Drayton 'A' 167-6 On a soft wicket, Ashmanhaugh got off to a scorching start against some shortish Drayton bowling, and were 36-0 after six overs. Eventually, sanity returned; Jason Trett and Daz Flatt, in tandem, found length and direction: Flatt, who finished with 4-36, taking two wickets in his first five overs.

The introduction of Nigel "Scrooge" Massingham (12-3-26-2), who found line and length at a pace which left the batsman plenty to do to put speed on the ball, bottled up the middle order and removed the dangerous D. Flint, with an even slower ball. Opener Mayes, who finished with 70, kept the score moving. He was, however, lucky to survive a confident appeal for caught behind off Mike Bown, making his Norfolk Cricket League debut.

"Doctor" Trett (12-1-31-4) returned to bowl Mayes and to surgically remove the tail, leaving Drayton with 166 to get for victory. Four catches were taken and the ground fielding was secure throughout Ashmanhaugh's innings: the pre-match fielding practice clearly had an effect. In terms of teamwork and mutual support, the 'A' team picked up where they left off last season.

In reply, openers Mike Sutton and Chris Coupland made a composed start, reaching 54 in the thirteenth over against some energetic bowling by Ashmanhaugh's teenagers. A change of bowling brought about Sutton's wicket. After four wides in his first over, Buxton surprised Sutton with a straight one. Richard Taylor (a club best 64 not out) and Coupland (51) waited for the bad balls and put them away, particularly in the direction of the shorter boundary, adding 80 in 18 overs. From 128-2 in the 31st over, Drayton suffered a mini-collapse, batsman getting caught trying to hit medium pacer Everett over the top,

Eventually, Drayton reached their target with 35 balls to spare, winning by four wickets.