Great Melton v Drayton 24th June 2006

Great Melton 148 (G. Foreman 11-0-31-4, A. Ogle 11.4-1-46-4) Drayton 149-2 (P. Wright 67*, C. Sutton 43*) A trip to the now familiar surroundings of Melton Park brought Drayton's first team back to winning ways on Saturday. Drayton got off to a fine start - Gary Smith took a wicket with his first ball, and Gary Foreman picked up two inside his first four overs to reduce the home side to 22-3. A solid partnership between Jason Whiddett and Ed Myers seemed to have got Melton back on track, however wicketkeeper Howard Davies took a spectacular catch off Saul Simpson to dismiss Myers the ball before the drinks interval. Alistair Ogle then took wickets in three consecutive overs, and at one stage Melton looked to be struggling to reach 100. However, the experienced heads of Daryl Godbold, Simon Woods and Ian Arnold saw them finish on a respectable 148.

When Drayton replied the new ball bowlers, Johnny Cooper and Ben Mann moved the ball appreciably off the pitch and in the air, however nothing went to hand and Philip Wright and Andy Hawes were able to add 40 for the first wicket, before Hawes was finally pouched at slip. Paul Eggett was then bowled by a "jaffer" from Gary Coulson and Melton seemed to be back in the match. Wright, along with Chris Sutton picked up the momentum, slowly at first before taking toll on the Melton change bowlers - by the time Mann and Cooper returned it was too late. Wright and Sutton added an unbeaten 98 for the third wicket, Wright finishing on 67 and Sutton 43, to ensure Drayton got a fine win and holds them at 5th in the Division One table.