Drayton v Great Melton 26th August 2006

Drayton 160-9 (P. Wright 55, G. Smith 48, M. Bunn 4-0-20-4) lost to Great Melton 161-2 (E. Myers 57*) by eight wickets.

Friday night it rained. So, despite a sunny, wicket-drying day on Friday, players arrived at the ground to find a wet-looking pitch, decorated with worm casts, and a lush, uncut outfield. A low-scoring match looked in prospect.

From a bowler's point of view, a fullish length seemed essential, bringing the batsmen forward and giving the ball opportunity to swing and seam off the greenish track. Melton opening bowlers, Ben Mann (3-21 in 12) and Johnny Cooper (1-32 in 12), got it just right, and Drayton's openers found beating the field hard work. It took a long time before the run rate crept up to two an over. Philip Wright (55) remained obdurate at one end, while firstm Saul Simpson and then acting skipper Gary Smith began the acceleration from the other.

Great Melton seemed a bowler light. While they shuffled their part-timers, Smith (48) and Wright hit several powerful boundaries, until Martin Bunn (in his earlier career a formidable quickie) was persuaded to bowl, as Drayton tried to capitalise on the final eight overs. He removed three Drayton batsmen with a mixture of good balls and wides, so that Reggie Kedge's shot for 2 runs, which brought Drayton's score to 160 and an extra bonus point, brought an appreciative ripple from the spectators.

With three main line bowlers absent, Drayton needed to bowl a full length and make the batsmen play forward and straight. Unfortunately, they didn't: the Melton run-rate quickly passed five an over. The introduction of Phil Soanes brought some control and, by dismissing both openers as they went for attacking shots, he briefly promised to turn the game back Drayton's way. Smith, too, from the other end, beat the bat and bowled one of his best spells of the season. The arrival of Myers (57 not out), however, sealed Drayton's fate. Watchful in defence, he was savage on anything short. He and Cooper made light of the lush outfield with several massive sixes, and the match was over inside 31 overs.