Gressenhall v Drayton 29th June 2008

Gressenhall 137 Drayton 141-7 Drayton's Sunday side re-entered the positive points zone thanks to their first victory of the season this weekend. Even more notable was that in two campaigns in the Mid Norfolk League Division Three, this was their first victory (having previously gone winless through the 2005 season). The home side elected to bat on a well grassed pitch, which once played on did not contain the variable bounce which it might on the surface appeared to have done. Rob Raven taking the new ball against his former club, had his tail up and tore into the home batting - dismissing Woods for 6 thanks to a fine catch at mid off by Mat Norman, and then taking a sharp return catch at the second attempt to dismiss Goodrum for 0. J. Thompson came in with clear positive intentions in mind, however he was caught behind by Jason Trett in Norman's first over for 12 - this set the scene for J. Seaman to come to the crease to launch some mighty powerful leg side shots. Well supported by Hawkes, he took the attack to all of the Drayton bowlers, and narrowly avoided hitting an elderly spectator with a fierce shot over mid wicket. Despite the ball going in the air at regular intervals, only one clear chance was presented which David Pointer just failed to cling onto on the boundary. Seaman was eventually dismissed by the returning Raven for 70 (9 fours and 4 sixes), with the score on 120. Thereafter the Gressenhall run scoring stagnated over the following 11 overs, with only 17 further runs being scored in the face of some tight bowling by Mike Bown (8-3-14-2), Raven (10-3-35-4) and Robert Reeve (8-3-17-2).

Drayton's reply got off to the worst possible start when vice captain Tim Woods was caught by a diving square leg fielder before he had scored. Philip Wright and Tony Gregory quickly set about asserting themselves with an early flurry of boundaries. The home bowlers gradually tightened their line and lengths but it was still a surprise when Gregory was bowled by a full toss for 15 to leave Drayton at 48-2. The previous weeks batting hero, Jason Trett, looked in good touch before playing a loose shot at Guymer, with the score at 72. Wright was dimissed for 56 (including 11 fours) and within the next three overs, Mike Bown, Warren Kedge and Rob Raven all followed - the latter pair dismissed first ball for the second consecutive week. This left Drayton at 97-7 and facing an uphill struggle to get to their target. Within an over a fierce downpour forced the sides off the pitch, however when they returned, the batsmen - Mat Norman and Robert Reeve looked in little trouble as they mixed watchful defence, with positive running and strong hitting. They added 44 in 9 overs to see Drayton to their target with 29 balls still to spare - Norman finishing 29 not out and Reeve 11 not out.