Great Melton v Drayton 7th July 2007

Great Melton 169-7 Drayton 154 Drayton were bitterly disappointed not to come away from Saturday's trip to Melton Park with the 16 points a win would have provided. Drayton got off to a great start as Michael Mario-Ghae bowled Jonny Cooper and J. Stephenson and Lee Cornfield removed Matt Clarke and Marcus Godbold (the latter to a breathtaking catch from Gary Smith - albeit it was only breathtaking in that he nearly dropped it!). This left Melton at 7-4, however Alex Cooper and Neal Clarke sensibly rebuilt the home sides innings. Their partnership had reached 86 before Cooper was smartly caught by Gary Foreman for 46. Daryl Godbold took the attack to the Drayton bowlers and along with Clarke sought to make a competitive total to bowl out. Clarke had just passed his half century when he was harshly adjudged caught behind off Mario-Ghae. Even after the dismissal of Godbold, again to Mario-Ghae who finished with 4-27 from his spell, the lower order batsman continued to push the score along - a final total of 169-7 representing a good recovery from their earlier perilous position.

Drayton's reply got off to a brisk start as Philip Wright and Andy Denny took advantage of some unusually wayward bowling from Jonny Cooper. Wright was dismissed in the 12th over with the score on 39, but Denny continued to attack and in conjunction with Paul Eggett added 31 in the next seven overs. When Denny was third man out Drayton were half way to their target in the 25th over. Some accurate bowling from Stephenson and Paul Movel bogged Drayton down and the next ten overs produced just 23 runs and saw the dismissals of Gary Smith and Cornfield. Gary Foreman and Kevin Roper both played positively, however both were removed when looking well set, and shortly after Michael Mario-Ghae was brilliantly caught by Melton wicketkeeper Simon Woods. The last rites were administered in the final over when 12 year old Zino Mario-Ghae was run out, leaving Drayton 16 short of their target.