Bungay v Drayton 28th July 2007

Bungay 119 Drayton 123-5 Drayton's first team picked up their fourth win in their last five completed matches, and in the process achieved their first away win since August 2006. Phil Soanes had no hesitation in asking Bungay to bat on seeing the pitch - however the move appeared to have backfired as New Zealander A. McCash and M. Watts added 95 in the first 22 overs to leave Drayton staring down the barrel of chasing 200+. The game however was turned, inexorably, by a fine piece of fielding from Stewart Forton who ran Watts out by several yards with the opener on 36. Gary Foreman then removed Will Lewis and D. McPhillie in his fourth over, and in the following over McCash was adjudicated hit wicket after breaking his own stumps attempting to pull a ball from Soanes to deep mid wicket. Thereafter the weakened home side lost wickets at regular intervals, with only Tony Chang offering any resistance. The potentially promising 95-0 became 119 all out. Foreman picking up 4-25 and Soanes 5-13.

In reply Drayton appeared to be reeling at 38-3, the dismissals included those of Andy Denny and Andy Hawes, both perhaps adjudged lbw perhaps somewhat harshly. Gary Smith and Michael Mario-Ghae consolidated the innings, adding 26 for the 4th wicket before Smith edged to slip for 21 - Stewart Forton then quickly followed to leave the score at 72-5. Mario-Ghae was joined by Paul Eggett, and slowly but steadily the score began to rise. Mario-Ghae infuriated the home captain McCash with some big swishes at fresh air, however as the saying goes, "hell hath no fury like a Nigerian helicopter pilot scorned" and Mario-Ghae proved this to be correct as he launched four mighty sixes off the home bowlers to see Drayton home to a five wicket victory. Mario-Ghae ended 49 not out and Eggett 4 not out - their partnership of 53 proving crucial.