Drayton 'A' v Ashmanhaugh 'A' 5th July 2008

Drayton 'A' 201-6 Ashmanhaugh 'A' 106 Despite the threat of downpours, a lovely sunny afternoon eventually provided the setting for a maximum points win by Drayton A, a win which lifts them to second in the division. Drayton batted first and, though Drayton made a quick start, a young, energetic Ashmanaugh attack made early inroads. Drayton were 41-2 after 10 overs. At that point Mike Sutton (42) and Tony Gregory (25) dug in and gradually upped the rate against young bowlers, who kept to their task with good spirit all afternoon. After Nigel Massingham and Sutton were involved in a bizarre run-out at 100-4, skipper Daz Flatt arrived for the final fifteen overs. With Graham Crowe (20), he put on 46 in eight overs, finishing on 51 not out, enabling Drayton to pass the all-important 200 mark.

After a late tea - Ashmanaugh took till 5.20 to bowl their overs (Eat your heart out, Paul Collingwood!). Drayton, with maximum batting points secured, took the field hoping to secure a quick win. Everett and Sheppard, however, had other ideas and survived against Jason Trett and Jamie Scarff for twelve overs. The occasional ball had taken off all afternoon, and Trett, in particular, was unlucky, beating the bat frequently and suffering the first of a succession of dropped catches in what was generally a sub-standard Dayton fielding display. Just how unlucky he had been was emphasized immediately when his replacement, Daz Flatt, secured a wicket, caught behind, off a distinctly widish first ball. Scarff bowled his twelve in a run, finishing with 3-24 from twelve overs. After wickets had started to fall, Jenks arrived at number six, to use his good eye to batter a speedy 27. Deciding to give the opposition less speed onto the bat, skipper Flatt introduced James Reeve, who started with a wicket maiden, thanks to good catch by Graham Crowe. Reeve eventually ended with 2-17, as a succession of young Ashmanaugh batsmen came out to bat bravely. On the plus side, Drayton, who prefer to chase a target, showed they have the batting depth to set a reasonably challenging target. Just as important, Drayton need to sharpen their fielding. RT.