Thurston 242 for 5

J Murray 65, T Wood 64 Not Out

Hartest and Coldham Hall 156 All Out

M Atkinson 33, N Hannon 25,  J Ralling 23, D Armstrong 23.


MAN OF THE MATCH J RALLING


   Captain William  Bryant again had the unfortunate position of finding players to get eleven fit men onto the park so a much weakened team again fielding new players with limited experience but great effort decided with a damp unpredictable pitch to insert Thurston into bat after winning the toss.

   Ben Atkinson opened with Dave Armstrong and had the ball swinging about sometimes too much but both Thurston openers laid down the base which Hartest never really got to grips with for the entire game.

   Murray chanced his arm and got his fifty in the 14th over with the total on 71 and carried on that intent, Captain Bryant put himself on but to no reward and it was Shaun Faires steady wicket to wicket bowling curtailed the run rate and finally had Murray caught for 65 with a smart low catch by Bryant.

   S Ellis joined Thurston Captain Andy Bendall and was fortunate to get to the score he did with a few old bad habits coming back today with approximately 8-10 drop catches some were very difficult five or six were not so but they all are until they are taken.

   The drinks break came with Thurston on 102 for 1 wicket and the onslaught was to happen with wickets in hand Ellis was caught by Ben Atkinson and Tom Wood came in with intent after being dropped by new man Jay Davenport of the bowling of Shaun Faires who will now put up Jays rent.

   Captain Andy Bendall finally was out to the spin again of John Ralling with a caught and bowled dismissal for 30.

   Unusual event in that J Smithers was dropped three times in his first three balls although none were easy and Stephen Dunn not quite a new debutant but one who has not been about lately due to University did well to parry the ball away before losing his head with one and evasive action well done other wise it could have been nasty.

   New debutant Steve Ryder came onto bowl and looks a handy player for the future not bowled in five years did surprisingly well and got better and better plus picked up the wicket of D Brown with a sharp catch from Ralling to go with another very good catch low down off his own bowling again dismissing Smithers who's luck had finally deserted him for 41.

   Tom Wood had amassed 64 by the end of the innings and just proved how expensive a drop catch is but he escaped more than a couple of times during that knock which ended up with Thurston batting there way to a very commanding 242 for five.

   After tea Ben Atkinson and Captain William Bryant opened the batting and unfortunately Ben Atkinson looking comfortable early on smacked a big ball deep to the longest boundary only to find one solitary fielder who was surprised he caught it and was congratulated by all his team mates to get rid of a potential danger man so early in a huge run chase.

   Niall Hannon who has been in good touch with the bat joined Billy Mongoose Bryant and they had to steady the ship as Thurston were already smelling victory and Hartest to roll over but the pair put on a creditable 28 partnership before Captain Billy hoisted one up in the air and was caught for 21.

   John Ralling entered the fray and began nicely moving the ball about as with Hannon being more aggressive moving the total onto 70 but well behind the run rate required when Ralling went for a big one and was caught by the Thurston Captain Bendall for 23.

   Steve Rydell joined Hannon but not for long as Niall Hannon aggression went for a big swing and a miss however the ball did not miss the stumps so Hannon departed for 25.

   Thurston were in complete control and they knew it was in the bag as M Atkinson joined Steve Ryder at 74 for 4 which became for five seconds later as Ryder was unfortunate given out caught at slip but off his arm not glove a very difficult spot for the umpire.

   M Atkinson was joined by Dave Armstrong who was very unwell with a side strain and difficult to run more than a single at a time in pain while he was batting but braved it out as Thurston rotated their bowlers but Dave who seems to be at his best with M Atkinson there with him found the boundary on a few occasions plus the singles were coming for both players sneaking up past the 100 mark before a swish from Armstrong had him bowled for 23 and the total was 115 for 6.

   M Atkinson plan was batting points the game was out of sight and Stephen Dunn sadly chipped up a dolly catch was heading back to the pavilion when Shaun Faires arrived at the crease with both targets of 125 and then 150 if possible was the next target.

   M Atkinson took the dominate roll and pushed the score on ably supported by Faires and a decent partnership of 30 took Hartest past the 125 score and on 149 when Faires was caught after the Thurston opening bowler Malcolm came back for 8.

   Ian Titch Copping had some pressure on but got the single to secure another batting point with five overs left then after keeping cool ran down the wicket to hit a six and was duly stumped.

   This brought out for his batting debut Jay Davenport as last man never played cricket before and very unaware where to stand or go this prompted M Atkinson to try his arm against the opening bowler Malcolm but skied one up high and was last man out for 33 as Malcolm took the catch off his own bowling.

   Hartest and Coldham Hall put up a brave effort the game could have been closer if a few catches had stuck but the effort and not giving in was all very good and did not roll over even chasing a big target.

   The teas was a good success with more than a few people contributing and thank you from the club for all chipping in for a lovely tea still being talked about by Thurston 20 overs into the second innings, it will not be to long maybe to extract some revenge as Thurston our the next team to play but the game is of course at Thurston.

   One last maybe little thing to mention was the appearance of Peter Richards who came out and did some umpiring towards the end of the innings to which he did very well and was lovely seeing the great man on the cricket pitch his first contributing act in well over a year due to injury [away from cricket] and still does tremendous work behind the scenes on the pitch and many other areas ably supported by his good lady Kate and Jake.

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