Drayton v Hingham Pirates 29th July 2007

Drayton 217-1 Hingham Pirates 201-8 Drayton entertained a good spirited Hingham side and came away with a victory from a performance which will need to be improved on in future weeks.

Drayton were asked to bat and Stuart Bowes gave the innings a flying start launching a series of attractive drives before he was bowled by Travis Butcher for 11 with the score on 20. Philip Wright joined Tim Woods at the crease, and the visitors fielders were quickly aware that the pair at the crease were the same pair who had added 245 in the reverse fixture. Woods was quickly into his stride hitting a series of fine back foot shots, despite the slow nature of the pitch, whilst Wright was knocking the singles around at the other end. Woods reached his fifty with some thirteen overs of the innings remaining - thereafter Wright was happy to allow his partner the strike in a bid to see Woods to his maiden century. This was achieved in the final over of the innings with a glance to fine leg - Woods ended on 104, including 15 fours and 1 five, and Wright on 55. For the second time this season the pair have broken a club partnership record against Hingham - this time the second wicket record following the partnership of 197 - eighteen years to the day after Mike Sutton and Paul Daft had set the previous record. Credit to Hingham, whose bowling and fielding performance was excellent and showed great improvement from the game at Hingham.

In reply Hingham's batsman showed great willingness to play their shots and any straying of line or length by the Drayton bowlers was punished. At the half was stage of their innings Hingham had raced to 114-2, with Drayton dropping several catching chances - some easy and some hard. There were some worried looks on the faces of the Drayton players and a hastily arranged team talk was held. The dangerous Steve Guy was run out after a hard hitting 68 following good work between Tim Woods and wicketkeeper Phil Jolly reducing Hingham to 130-3 and this quickly became 138-7, as debutant Mike Bown and Sam Giacomelli each claimed a couple of wickets. K. Taplin and L. Bond consolidated the visitors innings and after Taplin's dismissal - well caught by Jolly - Bond took the long handle approach successfully. Requiring 20 off Giacomelli's final over only three were achieved - leaving Drayton, despite a moderate display in the field victorious. Pick of the Drayton bowlers were Bown with 3-48 and Giacomelli 2-39. Congratulations to Giacomelli on becoming the second Drayton player this season to win the prestigious "Walker of the Plank" Award following his dropped catch which allowed Hingham's captain Faz to score his first run of the season.

Back row (left to right): Matt Bourne, Philip Wright, Tony Gregory, Warren Kedge, Phil Jolly, Jason Trett, Tim Woods, Mike Bown. Front row (l-r): Stuart Bowes, Sam Giacomelli, Ibby Badat.