Sprowston 'B' v Drayton 'A' 20th June 2006

Sprowston 'B' 204-6 Drayton 'A' 92 (Yallop 5-28) After last week's heroics, this was a disappointing display in many ways, apart from some determined ground fielding, particularly from the younger members of the team (and imminent bridegroom Scarff in particular!).

Drayton A thankfully did not repeat last week's inability to put out a full team, but were perhaps a bowler or two short. Twenty-three wides didn't help the cause much either. Stand-in opening bowler Kay, with his famous Ali shuffle to the wicket, had a marvellous opening eight overs, going for only 7 runs. Debut man Howard Davies bowled a useful spell of six overs (1-23). Predictably, Nigel Massingham was most economical, with 2-40 in his 11 overs. However, Sprowston's later batsmen got stuck into some short-pitched stuff, scoring at over six an over for the last 15 overs.

Drayton's reply stuttered. Norfolk Over-50s star Yallop bowled well for Sprowston, getting a little swing and seam on his home wicket, finishing with 5-28 off 12 overs, but for a long period in the middle of the Drayton innings Crowe and Davies batted with good technique and judgement. Unfortunately, wickets tumbled around the seventeenth over, Davies out to a remarkable leg-side stumping. The appearance of two impressive, young Sprowston spinners heralded the end, though not before Kay (surely batting too low at 8!) and Reeve had shown that the spinners could be played sensibly, though not necessarily scored off quickly.

At present in the relegation zone, Drayton A need to regroup - if possible with another regular bowler or two. Skipper Kay's desire to give everybody a game may need to be tempered by some more realism.