Drayton v Old Buckenham 'A' 30th June 2007

Old Buckenham 'A' 70 Drayton 71 A rain shower which began at 12.30 and didn't ease off until 2.30 threatened tio disrupt Drayton's game with Old Buckenham 'A'. However, the ground soaks the rain better than many others in the county and play eventually got under way at 2.45, with the captains sensibly agreeing to play a 30 over a side match. Phil Soanes won a vital toss and asked the visitors to bat first, but it was the experienced pairing of Mark Dunnett and Craig Savage who got out of the blocks quicker. A rapid opening partnership of 31 was ended when Savage struck a fierce cut which Andy Denny clung onto in the gully off Michael Mario-Ghae. Dunnett started to open up against Lee Cornfield, but then struck a full toss to Philip Wright at mid on who took a sprawling catch. There then followed an extraordinary sequence of play when wickets tumbled over by over - the collapse taking Old Buckenham from 31-0 to 47-6. For the second week running Cornfield finished his spell with 4-38, whilst Mario-Ghae was a constant threat, eventually finishing with 2-17. Some lower order resistance organised by visiting captain Nigel Armitage dug out some vital runs for the visitors but Gary Foreman and Phil Soanes both picked up two wickets to end the innings at 70 all out. Most notable amongst the latter wickets was a smart leg side catch by wicketkeeper Mike Ridout on his first team debut to dismiss Joe Perry.

The threat of rain was to the fore of Drayton's thoughts as they set out in response of the target, and as a result Philip Wright and Andy Denny formed a new opening pair. Denny put any nerves out of the watching Drayton players thoughts as 21 were struck from Greg Mann's third over to leave thm in a commanding position. The introduction of the slower bowlers, Savage and Ritchie Davies slowed Drayton down and Denny was first to perish caught on the boundary off Savage for a typically aggressive 30. The next passage of play summed up Drayton's season as Wright, Stewart Forton and Cornfield were all dismissed in quick succession - with the batsman all apprehensive of the darkening skies. However, Kevin Roper stepped up to the plate as he first clipped Davies through backward square leg for four, before launching a big six over long on to seal victory. A second consecutive win puts Drayton in a good position to try and maintain their Division One status for 2008. For the record, the rain eventually arrived around midnight!