Drayton 'A' v New Buckenham 10th May 2008

New Buckenham 128-8 Drayton 'A' 129-3 A glorious sunny afternoon : drinks every fifteen overs- and a fast outfield promised a run-feast, so Drayton did well to restrict New Buckenham to 128 in their 45 overs. After a promising start, the dangerous opener, Thompson, who had crashed several fours off the back foot, fell to a sharp caught and bowled by skipper Darren Flatt, and Jamie Scarff bowled Philips with a tricky yorker.

Cue Nigel Massingham to bowl a typically canny 9-4-16-1. Mike Bown had another frustrating afternoon, going for only 2 an over, but having to watch as Buckenham batsmen just managed to evade the field with aerial shots. Jason Trett beat the bat often and was unlucky to concede runs off the edge, while Flatt (11-1-35-5) worked through the middle order, with two wickets in successive balls. Stand-in keeper, Mike Sutton, gave a typically tidy performance, doubtless thanks to diligent practice in the back garden with Mrs S.

At 89 for 6 in the 38th over, it looked as if New Buckenham might only just struggle past 100. But then enter young Ferry, who crashed bowlers down the ground with some blistering drives in a hard-hit 29 from about 18 balls! Suspecting a ringer, Drayton players enquired if skipper Thompson had ever seen the young man bat before. He merely answered enigmatically: Yes I have. The thing is he’d bat that way if he went in number four. Perhaps it was just as well for Drayton he wasn’t batting earlier!

Chasing 129 to win, Drayton got off to freak start. Going to hit a highish full toss in the first over, Sutton got a top edge and Marshall took a good catch over his shoulder, running back from square leg. Thereafter, Chris Coupland, showing admirable patience, provided the backbone of the Drayton innings, adding 44 runs with Richard Taylor (22); 38 with Tony Gregory (10) and seeing Drayton home with Massingham (16 not out). He scored his second fifty in succession, with some lovely strokes, including a sweet straight six, the subject of a bizarre misundertanding by the long-on fielder, who mistook last week’s boundary line for this week’s!

The square and wicket looked a picture: thanks Jimmy Kay!