Drayton v Halvergate 17th May 2008

Halvergate 133 Drayton 134-5 Having described captain Phil Soanes as being a useless tosser for losing two vital calls in the opening two games of the season, it is only fair to say that this week, Phil's pre-match toss was gratefully received by all of his team mates. Rain on Friday and Saturday left the pitch wet, however due to the hardness of the surface, the match was never in doubt - credit yet again to groundsman, James Kay.

Facing old rivals Halvergate, Drayton knew they needed to greatly improve on their poor fielding and bowling display the previous week, and sure enough it was delivered. Gary Foreman, taking the new ball in the absence of Lee Cornfield led the way with a probing opening spell of 8-3-13-1, which included the wicket of Billy Brister, well caught by Gary Smith in the covers. Michael Mario-Ghae then picked up the wicket of Hill in the following over - the first of two fine catches by wicketkeeper Mike Ridout.

If Drayton were looking for inspiration in the field this was delivered by an outstanding bowling display from 19 year old Robert Reeve. Bowling with pace and hostility, he never allowed the Halvergate batsman to settle, and gained his reward by dismissing Halvergate captain Clarke and youngster Hannant in his 3rd and 4th overs, both caught in the gully by Philip Wright. The first boundary struck off his bowling came in his eighth over, and his final figures of 8-2-12-2 were throughly deserved.

Some big hitting resistance from T. Crane and J. Gill was ended when Phil Soanes dismissed them in consecutive balls - the former being caught on the long off boundary by Wright - his 3rd catch of the innings. Gary Foreman returned to mop up the tail, and finish with figures of 10.2-3-23-4, as The Hares were bowled out for 133.

Drayton's reply couldn't have got off to a worse start as Andy Denny and Andy Hawes were dimissed by the lively opening bowler Booth, reducing Drayton to 5-2. Not without alarm, Philip Wright and Paul Eggett stabilised the innings - putting together a patient partnership of 59 in 22 overs, before Eggett was bowled for 21 by Booth who had returned for a second spell. Philip Wright was smartly caught having reached 40 - leaving Drayton at 81-4 in the 33rd over and the match still in the balance. Enter Gary Smith and Michael Mario-Ghae, who in characteristically aggressive fashion put together a half century partnership which was ended when Mario-Ghae miscued with the scores level having hit 2 sixes and 3 fours in his 29. Stewart Forton scored the winning run, leaving Smith unbeaten on 26 having his 4 fours and 1 six.

Drayton now have two wins from three games and next week travel to Beaconsfield Rec to face Great Yarmouth.