Rocklands 'A' v Drayton 'A' 18th August 2007

Rocklands 'A' 144-8 Drayton 146-4 This Saturday, being the penultimate game and a crucial fixture, Drayton 'A' never having won at the Rocklands venue and possibly also the decider for second spot in Division Eight - with everything to play for Drayton were well and truly fired up for the occasion.

Drayton losing the toss were asked to take to the field, which suited skipper Daz Flatt. Armed with the new ball and with the pace of Jason Trett and Jamie Scarff the attack started firing smoothly and on all cylinders - the speed and accuracy keeping Rocklands to a low score on a track and outfield capable of producing a high score - after 13 overs only 42 runs were on the board.

Coming on first change the ever frugal Nigel Massingham bowled four maidens in a row - in the fourth he got the well deserved breakthrough - Michael Kay lofting an off drive high in the sky, which was superbly caught by Graham "Buckets" Crowe for 30, to leave the score 51-1 off 19 overs. The second wicket again fell to Massingham, clean bowling the other opener Richard Doe for 19.

Jamie Scarff bowled well in his two spells without any reward - his fielding was also impeccable. Skipper Flatt replaced Scarff at the Pavilion End and bowled accurately and with venom to bowl Stevenson for 1, whilst in his next over he removed Pearce caught behind by Chamberlain. He eventually returned figures of 4-32 off 11 overs. Trett replaced Massingham for his second spell and he removed Harrison (28) caught on the boundary by James Kay. Trett finished with 1-36 off 12 overs - additional wickets again eluding him with two dropped catches.

Having dropped a catch, James Kay demonstrated an unusually quick piece of thinking when he smartly gathered his thoughts as well as the ball, and redeemed himself by running out Pearce. Drayton's display in the field and ever keeness reflected in the low score of 144-8 on a day when 200+ should have been easily achievable.

The return of Mike Sutton to opening with Nigel Massingham got Drayton off to a good start, with the score ticking along nicely. Unfortunately in the ninth over, Massingham was caught behind for 11 with the score on 29. Tony Gregory then joined Sutton and continued the rate by dispatching 3 fours until he was caught by Puttock at first slip off a ball that swung away and found the edge. James Kay then added a further 12 before he too was caught

Graham Crowe joined Sutton, and after a shaky and nervous start to his innings he began to knuckle down and play some fluent shots. With the score on 101, Sutton cut the ball into the hands of Michael Kay at point, having scored 43 in a superb display of controlled strokes.

Flatt came to the crease, and together with Crowe took control quickly building a partnership of 45 in six overs. Fittingly, the captain Flatt hit the winning runs to finish on 23 not out, with Crowe also unbeaten on 19.

Watton's defeat to Halvergate 'A' has ruled them out of the battle for the Division Eight Runners Up spot. The Drayton mathematicians have worked out that, assuming Rocklands 'A' pick up 26 points from next weeks trip to Frettenham, Drayton would require just two points from their clash with Watton to secure second spot, and the 'A' team's first honours in 23 years. Good luck to all involved next Saturday.