H&CHCC Slaughter Lakenheath

Lakenheath 154 for 9 in 40 overs

Hodge 4 for 23

H&CHCC 155 FOR 2

B Atkinson 49 Not Out, M Roberts 48, D Hodge 42


Hartest & Coldham Hall CC took on Lakenheath at the Richards Oval a match sponsored by Ian's Personal 1-2-1 training on the hottest day of the year.

Unbeknown to the team Captain Bryant had won the toss and decided to put Lakenheath into bat but forgot to mention this fact to his team when a long haul in the sun was about to begin however it is the Captain's decision to make what he feels are the right choices for the team whether they agree or not and as the twenty points were won in the end fairly comfortable he was fully justified.

Lakenheath took to the field with Jack Armstrong and John Moriarty opening the bowling with a superb opening spell especially from Armstrong who was very quick but more so very accurate as Palmer found out when a superb ball clipped his off stump which many players would not have played.

Harvey the tall opener was joined by Dupe and both struggled to make in roads to the H&CHCC bowling with an odd ball flying of to the boundary at lightening speed on the quick outfield.

With the score on 52 Harvey was trapped LBW for 37 and this brought first teamer Reynolds to the crease and with Dupe slowly inched their way to a few singles plus the odd boundary the H&CHCC bowling was very good on a batting track.

Ironically it was at the twenty over mark after good spells from Jack Armstrong and Moriarty that Peter Richards the old stalwart of H&CHCC got a wicket with his first ball that of Dupe for 23 runs.

Hannem came and went in two balls later as Richards bowled him out for a duck leaving Lakenheath 80 for 4 but Reynolds was still in for them and a lot of hope on his shoulders.

Hodge and Richards were bowling exceptionally although not taking the wickets the fielding was backing up the bowling very well on such a scorching day it was very hard work but the rewards of a few runs scored slowly was keeping the team on their toes even though during that spell a couple of difficult catches were put to ground.

Finally Hodge bowled Reynolds who was trying to move the scoring rate on as time was fast running out as the score was 120 for five but more importantly in the 34th over which put more pressure on the Lakenheath.

The pressure exerted by H&CHCC was plain to see as Weekes skied a very high shot where Ben Atkinson was underneath it to take a very good catch not as wicket keeper but as a fielder because there was an Atkinson behind the stumps by the name of Mark who at this stage had not conceded a single bye due to the very good bowling and the glorious wicket prepared by P Richards and the rolling by Nick Rutter plus the support team.

Wickets began to fall as the overs were running out even though Lakenheath tried to force the runs only the left hander Wooten was giving any resistance who was probably playing one of his best innings in a while.

With the last ball of the innings Hodge got his fourth wicket bowling Tobbig for two leaving Lakenheath on 154 for 9 after 40 overs and in the heat a very good effort from the whole H&CHCC team.

Batting track you better believe it Roberts and Hodge opened as usual to a gusto of shots tearing the Lakenheath attack to threads scoring at nearly eight an over within the first four overs and it did not stop there as runs were coming fast.

The heat did not seem to slow the pair down as they continued the barrage of shots from both Hodge and Roberts with boundaries a plenty the Lakenheath team tried different bowlers but the same result ensued.

With the score on 85 Roberts tiring a beat in the intense heat was finally bowled for a very good 48 and with only 12 overs gone the boom boom H&CHCC were certainly on fire.

Hodge was joined by Ben Atkinson who if Lakenheath thought a break through that was also not to last long as he to gunned the Lakenheath attack to all parts of the ground and when Hodge fell to a decent catch for 42 the score was on 115 in the 17th over.

Hamish Fiddes kept Ben Atkinson on strike with two sixes one massive one which lost the ball over the road the score was fast mounting up and Lakenheath had tired were also well beaten side before the end of the game and it was a matter of course where the twenty points were going.

Ben Atkinson plundered the Lakenheath bowling that with the fifth ball of over 19 he swept a four to win the game and end up on 49 not out with his patient partner Hamish Fiddes not out 9.

The victory was secured by the tight balling in difficult conditions with the heat no breeze but good all round fielding and superb bowling plus the batsman finding their form now moving into the season on a good batting pitch prepared well by the ground staff so a super victory for H&CHCC.

Next week H&CHCC are at home to British Sugar with only a few games on next week we may see a few extra spectators adding to the reasonable amount that saw a very good team effort and hard to pick a man of the match but David Hodge got four wickets bowling ten overs then opened the batting with a fine 42 so with endurance and skill he was awarded the accolade but he realises his team were all on the money today.

The Webmaster