Drayton v Caister 15th July 2007

Caister 204-3 Drayton 131-8 Drayton entertained a Caister side containing eight of their regular Saturday first teamers who have a 100% record in Norfolk League Division Three this season. Drayton lost the toss and were asked to field and were unable to make the early breakthroughs of the previous Sunday, as both Jason Trett and Matt Bourne found the lifeless surface difficult to penetrate. The first wicket fell with the score on 73, when Sam Giacomelli, who bowled an impressive spell of medium pace (8-0-25-1) induced M. Johnson to mistime a pull straight to Tim Woods at mid wicket. Only two further wickets fell - Will Herring being involved in both - the first when J. Kerrison having made 59 picked out Jason Trett on the square leg boundary and the second when Herring intercepted a fierce drive from S. Kerrison at mid on and in one motion threw down the non strikers stumps. Some lusty hitting in the last few overs saw Caister to an excellent total of 204-3

In their reply Drayton were soon in trouble, losing the consistent Tim Woods for 2 and Stuart Bowes for 0, to leave them 9-2. Sam Giacomelli joined Philip Wright and the pair found loose balls at a premium particularly from the miserly C. Tennant who bowled an accurate spell of away swing (8-3-9-1). Giacomelli displayed his fine range of powerful off side shots before being caught behind for 16. The experienced Tony Gregory joined Wright and looked to increase the scoring rate. With Wright trying to set up the innings for an assault in the last seven or eight overs on the Caister total, he opened his shoulders - however shortly after reaching his fifty he was caught on the mid wicket boundary. What remained was always going to be a difficult ask for new batsman to try and score at the required rate and Drayton ended up falling 73 short of their opponents total. Good luck to Caister, deserved winners on the day, against Great Witchingham in the semi final.