Ketteringham Hall 'A' v Drayton 21st July 2007

Ketteringham Hall 'A' 173-9 Drayton 'A' 174-8 On winning the toss Ketteringham elected to bat on a seemingly wet wicket, possibly with the thought that once it started to dry it would become increasingly hard to bat on, which eventually proved to be correct. Matt Bourne got the early breakthrough having the opener, skipper Rob Valentine, smartly caught behind by the ever active wicketkeeper Neil Chamberlain in the fifth over. The second wicket fell in the ninth over with the score on 26. Drayton were now looking as if they were about to carve into the batting, however Bobbin and Perera had different ideas, as they knuckled down and rebuilt the innings with a partnership of 86. Perera was eventually dispatched by spinner Will Herring for 41 - Herring later dismissed opener Bobbin for 74, securely caught by the ever safe hands of Nigel Massingham fielding on the long off boundary.

With the score creeping up gradually to respectability the lower order batsman showed little resistance to the second spell of Jamie Scarff (2-34), and the overall accurate seam bowling of captain Daz Flatt, who beat the bat on numerous occasions without getting the reward he deserved. Matt Bourne gave good support with his spell of 4-33.

After a short shower during the tea interval and a delayed re-start, with thunder, lightning and black clouds ever present, as predicted the ball started to show signs of keeping low. Drayton started their innings with the loss of a wicket to the very first delivery caught and bowled by left arm spinner Perera. Drayton then lost their second wicket in the ninth over with the score at 13-2. Mike Sutton joined Graham Crowe at the crease to rebuild the innings just as Ketteringham had. Crowe was caught after a very sound and solid 31 with the score on 69. Sutton continued the chase dispatching Perera for 2 sixes off his last over. He was eventually dismissed by Rowell after a varied display of good attacking shots for 35.

Skipper Flatt contiuned the onslaught, with Chamberlain giving support by adding a further 14 runs to the score. Drayton were gradually running out of batsman, and requiring 43 runs off 5 overs, lost James Reeve run out looking for every run possible. With only three overs left and with the score on 142-8, Drayton were staring defeat in the face, and praying for the ever present clouds to deposit the rain that had looked imminent all day. Jamie Scarff joined Flatt, armed with his new bat and eager to improve on his average of 2.75, and set to the task of making hay without the sun, struck Petzold for 24 runs in his first over. He christened his new bat in the best possible way striking two sixes, quickly disguising the one coming off the edge. His wife Rachel said she'd never seen him hit one six before.... With six balls left Drayton needed 5 runs. Fittingly skipper Flatt hit the winning runs with 4 balls remaining - he ended up with 31 not out, and the match winning Scarff hit 25 not out. For Ketteringham, Rowell took 4-35.