Sprowston 'B' v Drayton 'A' 28th June 2008

Sprowston B 139 Drayton A 140-5 It’s a hard life. Drayton 'A' started this game: played 8, won 6, lost 1, abandoned 1 and were still only fourth in Division Seven. Even after beating top team, Sprowston B, Drayton only moved up to third. Sprowston were fortunate last week to meet Martham with several key players missing, and their win enabled them to replace Martham at the top of the division. This week, Sprowston were themselves a few players short, though their replacements distinguished themselves: fifteen year old Spilling junior, playing his first senior game, made a stylish 19, bowled seven accurate overs and took a fine tumbling catch at mid-on; former Sprowston first team pace attack, Poole and Eccles, who both own up to being over forty, came out of retirement to display their timeless skills and loudly recall the days when fifteen years old were men and hoped to bowl well enough to be given twenty-three over spells!

A sunny, windy day, straw-coloured wicket and fast outfield promised a high-scoring game, and Sprowston’s first four batsmen all got a start, scoring at four an over in the first twelve. Jason Trett, who took two wickets, removed the dangerous Corcoran, and Nigel Massingham (3-23 fron 12 overs) came on to confuse batsmen who clearly preferred pace. Sprowston suffered a mid-order collapse after captain Spilling Snr unwisely took on Trett’s arm, following a subtle step-over (!), and paid the price when a direct hit beat his attempt at a second run. az Flatt (4-25 in 10 - jug avoidance?) hit the stumps four times. Eccles and young Spilling, with good sense and sound technique, added a valuable 36 in the last ten overs, raising some eyebrows about the Sprowston batting order. All of which raised the question whether the wicket was quite as good as it looked.

In reply, Drayton openers James Kay and Mike Sutton vowed to bat sensibly. Kay, however, after a powerful off drive, perished cutting the nagging Eccles. Sprowston’s lanky left-armer, Rose, bowled with good control and did a bit both ways, as they say. Richard Taylor and Mike Bown both looked set but both got themselves going for big shots. At the other end, Mike Sutton settled to play the anchor role. He hit plenty of well-timed shots, but the field was well set and, wisely, he didn’t take risks. When Massingham arrived at the crease, he too decided he had time enough to play himself in. One run in five overs. Hopes rising, Sprowston fielded very efficiently. Then Massingham decided he was ready to play more expansively. His 34 runs included seven fours, mostly drives: very encouraging stuff after a quiet start to the season with the bat. Sutton’s invaluable vigil (38, with four boundaries) finished bizarrely in the forty-second over, when he was run out, leaving Flatt and Graham Crowe to see Drayton home with three overs to spare.. RT.