Hartest and Coldham Hall CC  104 All Out

J Ralling 45 N Hannon 18.

Haverhill CC       105 For 8

J Ralling 3 for 20

MAN OF THE MATCH - Chairman John Ralling


   With the forecast of a super hot sunny day and not a cloud in East Anglia one wonders if the miens were correct with an end of the world prediction as it poured with rain and thunder belting out above our heads on arrival to the ground but the Haverhill boys got the covers on and after thirty minutes the game was on but with less overs, 36 a side and maximum of 9 overs per bowler.

   Captain Will Bryant who had a back injury plus work commitments meant Hartest only having ten men with scorching heat and humidity won the toss and decided to bat with Chairman John Ralling making a welcome return to Suffolk to open with stalwart Mark Roberts.

   With a wet outfield Roberts imperiously pushed forward to a ball that flew to the boundary for four, those days at Lords paid off until the next over when a ball keeping low dispatched him back to the dressing room for four runs.

   Niall Hannon joined John Ralling and with John playing some gifted shots all around the ground soon had the Haverhill fielders spread as Hannon quietly calmly batted himself in and supported Ralling leading to the biggest partnership of 58 runs at a reasonable rate.

   Incredible heat with humid conditions lead to Ralling going for another big shot a bit tired and short of match practise skied one up into the air and was caught for 45 runs just short of a deserving half century.

   The great famous Hartest collapse was soon to follow two ducks for Armstrong and Toon and a quick fire 16 from Bryant including M Atkinson dismissal for one left the tailenders exposed only Gus Walton with help from Nick Rutter got the team to 104 before Walton edged to the keeper for 13 runs.

   Haverhill should have knocked them off and moved on with thanks to the twenty points however Hartest and Coldham still put up a fight in still very humid conditions set about with Dave Armstrong and Walton charging in and a few over zealous balls had the batsman dancing about a bit plus his own wicket keeper.

   During this spell Walton bowled two and M Atkinson took a smart catch behind although he had caught one earlier off an edge but the umpire didn't give it and the batsman didn't walk however that's cricket sometimes he did not last long afterwards so no great harm done.

   Although Armstrong and Walton did well they tired in the searing heat and Captain Bryant choose a double spin option of Rusty Ralling and Nick Nutcase Rutter which nearly brought on a major game change with both spinners working in super tandem.

   Ralling removed R Williams the opener bowling him and then Rutter had T Saville caught by Niall safe hands Hannon followed by another Ralling key wicket of Bolton smacking a big short to a simply wonderful catch in the deep sun in eyes to Shaun Faires, superb catch where the team went to him to show respect of a super catch.

   Squeaky bottom time for Haverhill a game should have been so easily won was becoming an embarrassment if they did not against ten men and a very much weakened side with people away mostly bowlers and batsmen from the top order.

   Safe Hands Hannon took a simpler catch although none are ever easy until taken plus an LBW from Rutter took Haverhill down to 8 wickets with only 11 runs required it took a while and some good fielding all over and eventually Haverhill with two older experienced guys saw them home in an exciting game where both teams had contributed to a very good game.

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