Drayton v Costessey 2nd September 2007

Costessey 170-9 Drayton 159 Drayton entered their final league game of the season against Costessey with an outside chance of winning the league, however more realistically runners up spot was well within their grasp. The late arrival of Matt Bourne meant that Mike Dennison took the new ball with Jason Trett and the pair each picked up an early wicket to reduce Costessey to 13-2. When Bourne did arrive he soon removed Costessey's opening batsman Carlton for 9. Thereafter R. Bilham and A. Harris set about the Drayton bowlers with those bowling up the hill and into the wind particularly struggling. Having added 73 for the 4th wicket, both batsman fell in Bourne's final over - Bilham for 52 and Harris for 38. Trett returned to the attack and as usual picked up some useful wickets - finishing with 4 for 19 from his ten overs to finish with 25 wickets for the season. G. Taylor struck some lusty late blows for Costessey as he finished on 32 and took his team to a useful 170-9.

Drayton's reply, led by Philip Wright and Tim Woods, was steady against some accurate bowling from C. Smith and G. Taylor. The introduction of M. Bilham into the attack saw the Drayton openers cut loose as both punished a series of wayward long hops - Wright launching one over the mid wicket boundary for six. Woods fell to a smartly taken catch at mid on off the bowling of J. Carroll for 19 with the total on 60, and two balls later Ibby Badat also perished. Chairman Richard Taylor came to the crease and immediately found his range clipping M. Bilham for two boundaries. Sensibly for Costessey, R. Bilham removed the wicketkeeping gloves and swapped places with M. Bilham and this had the desired effect as Philip Wright fell in his first over for 38. R. Bilham then went on to dimiss Taylor for 22 and Will Herring for 2 to leave Drayton at 102-5. Jason Trett and Mike Bown put together a fine partnership of 43 to get their side back into the match - Trett smashing one trademark six in his 21 and Bown unveiling some fine shots in his 16. The pair fell in quick succession and with the light fading - the remaining runs proved beyond the Drayton lower order. The final total of 159 meant that Drayton added six batting bonus points to their four bowling bonus points.