Frettenham v Drayton 'A' 29th July 2006

Frettenham 94-8 (M. Fuller 4-21) Drayton A 93 (J. Scarff 5-34)The game was played on what commentators would refer to as " a results pitch". From the start, the ball leapt from a length, quickly, but still making the drive a difficult shot to play. Of the 18 wickets to fall in the match, 12 were caught; of the five bowled, 3 were played on.

Frettenham's bowlers knew their wicket: their opening pair, Smith (2-10 from 10 overs), Websdale (2-12 from 11 overs) and M. Fuller (4-21 from 11 overs) bowled with excellent control - good length, off stump. After 16 overs, Drayton were 20 for 2. James Kay (22), Tony Gregory (17) and Graham Crowe (16) were the main contributors in a rather disappointing Drayton total. Given the wicket, though, Drayton felt they still had a chance.

When Frettenham batted, however, they got off to a flier. Any rearing balls were cut or top edged for boundaries. After four overs, the score was 27-0. Then Jamie Scarff struck. He claimed two wickets in successive balls, caught at slip by Taylor, then a third wicket, when opener Barnham attempted to drive and was caught by Crowe, running from mid-off to mid-on. Three catches by keeper Ed Pink, two of them off Junior Campbell, making his first Saturday appearance of the season, and Frettenham were reduced to a nerve-tingling 67-7 in the 15th over. Websdale, man of the match by a distance, then took control. Alone of the batsmen, he was able to hit straight with enough power to clear fielders or the boundary. Though Josh Cameron bowled batsman no. 9, bringing the score to 77- 8 and though Websdale survived a couple of very difficult chances in his 40 not out, no other wickets fell. Scarff, with 5-34, could count himself unlucky (though, having been involved in a wasteful run out with Cameron, perhaps not!).