H&CHCC Secure First Win of the Season

H&CHCC 155 FOR 9

B Atkinson 43, Hodge 25, Bryant 20


Mildenhall II 150 FOR 8

Moriarty 5 FOR 39


On a very chilly afternoon with dark clouds and a very damp pitch with overnight rain Mildenhall who won the toss decided to put H&CHCC in to have a go first.

Usual opening pair of Hodge & Roberts took on the task with a keen Mildenhall keeping up early pressure with some very tight bowling leaving both openers who normally like to get on with it struggling for runs but taking the shine off the new ball.

Twelve overs and only when the first wicket of Roberts went for 12 and the score on 30 with Fiddes joining Hodge still hard work to get the runs on the board and Fiddes was soon back in the hutch for 9 and B Atkinson joined Hodge.

Hodge was caught for 25 and Captain Bryant joined B Atkinson where a few runs were put on but very slowly except for a large six from Captain Bryant but with the score on 80 Bryant was yorked by a second bounce ball which somehow clipped his leg stump.

Then a rash of wickets Walton 0, Richrads 2, Moriarty 2, J Armstrong 0, leaving B Atkinson on his own trying to up the run rate and survive with the tail and the score only on 104 for 8 he had to hit out and one over gleaned 16 very valuable runs and with a drying pitch the runs were much needed.

Sadly going for one to many shots B Atkinson was bowled for a top score of 43 and the score to 138 with Nick Rutter last man joining D Armstrong in the middle as last pair.

Under some instructions to stay out there to the end and accumulate what they could with the reason extras were mounting up ending up as 32 runs but Nick Rutter not renown for his batting hit a lovely shot to deep long on for a four met with aloud applause from the watching players.

By hook or by crook the pair got past 150 and another batting point to end the H&CHCC Innings on 155 for 9 a creditable score from at one point very difficult position.

After tea Mildenhall set about the target with similar start to H&CHCC on the slow side the wicket was drying out plus the ball was 40 overs old and the outfield was also quickening up making it easier to score.

Eleven overs before Bryant took a catch of a top edge for J Armstrong to claim the first wicket but then Mildenhall skipper Taylor with opener Allen put the score onto 56 however when Taylor was out for 22 the overs gone had crept up to 19 and still a 100 runs required.

Webb joined Allen but Allen was soon to leave the arena for 13 LBW to Hodge but Webb after shaky start was finding the middle of his bat and the loss of T Allen to a sublime one handed catch by Roberts did not disturb him and between Webb and Cornell took the score up to 117 but cruicially in the 34th over.

Mildenhall had to get a move on and Moriarty was after a slow start getting very dangerous picking up the dangerous Webb LBW who felt harshly given by his own umpire and skipper for 39.

Cornell tried to work with the tail but he too became a victim of Moriarty for 21 and H&CHCC were smelling victory in their nostrils as well as the bitter cold even with the sun out.

Ready in the Mildenhall lower order tried to get over the winning line but needing 2 a ball off the last three overs was to much and his partner Tippett was caught and bowled by man of the match Moriarty for his five wickets the end was up for Mildenhall.

Mildenhall though did scrape through to earn another batting point when they got to 150 on the last ball of the innings but the day belonged to H&CHCC with a home win plus the first league win of the season at the Richards Oval.

Credit must go to the good spirit of the game from Mildenhall and the new Lounge carpet plus the usual high quality teas laid on by the Ms Bryant & Atkinson plus the first trip to the Shimpling Bush pub which had Chips laid on plus John Moriarty bought a jug for his team mate and Mildenhall.

The weather was probably the only bad thing in a good day of cricket plus a home victory for the mighty Hartest & Coldham Hall Cricket Club.

Next Week Nowton away please feel free to come and support the boys in this traditional hard fixture with all the details on the website on how to get to the ground etc.

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