Tuddenham 197 All Out

Bacon 84, Smith 62 - Rutter 5 for 50.

Hartest and Coldham Hall 198 for 8

Bryant 58, Ralling 42, Hannan 26 Not Out.

MEN & WOMEN OF THE MATCH WERE ALL TEA LADIES, GENTS, AND CHILDREN.

TODAY'S MATCH THERE WERE THREE ;

CAPTAIN BRYANT, NICK RUTTER & NIALL HANNAN

   Emotional game for the Captain being his last game as Captain on a warm sunny day with a slight breeze where a truly super game happened between two sides in the sun which has been very rare this summer.

   Losing the toss Tuddenham decided to bat and the openers Bacon and Smith took to the field where they played superbly for the opening twenty overs not giving any chances and mounting a formidable score.

   After twenty one over they had over a hundred with all wickets intact and looking to move on to a very large total when the out going skipper brought on Ralling the spin king from the road end who got the run rate down as the pace was taken off the ball and both batsmen where not akin to taking risks with big hitting the run rate dropped.

   This prompted the skipper to use spin from both ends and brought on Nick Rutter and early stages no wickets were falling but the runs were a lot more scarce as fielding places were spot on and finally in the 32nd over Ralling got rewarded when Smith lobbed a ball to Roberts for the first wicket at 159 with only eight overs left it was going to be a big heave ho to get the score up to 200 plus to snuff out Hartest and Coldham Hall.

   This is where Nick Rutter took centre stage keeping his nerve tossing the ball up and to be honest there was not any gremlins in the pitch only in the minds of the batsmen.

   Hodge also returned from his early spell and picked up a wicket with a sharp catch from M Atkinson behind the stumps taking over from B Atkinson who had a knee injury and went out into the deep where he took a great running catch deep on the boundary as wickets were tumbling even to the extent of Nick Rutter on a hatrick but was not to be this time.

   Tuddenham had got to 197 as Hodge bowled the last man with four balls left of the forty overs giving him three wickets but the starman was Nick Rutter who got five wickets to put his name on the board.

   Nick  Rutter was also the star at tea, his legendary teas were again out in force with a very good crowd to appreciate it with lucky Tuddenham as well but a big but it would be absolutely correct to say the Hartest ladies and gents won the league for best teas with some super home made teas which were contributed through the season which was also a awkward one with such poor weather and call offs the teas were super throughout the season a big thank you please do not underestimate the teas they are a big plus to make the whole day one to cherish.

   With his last game Captain William Bryant opened the batting with Mark Roberts who was unfortunately was out early not playing a cow corner shot this time and when Hodge coming in at three was caught for nine the Tuddenham team seemed destined for victory.

   How many times in sport do things happen that seem right to happen and today was one of those days even if not covered by Sky Sports when Captain Billy Bryant played with concentration and commitment knowing his next shot could be his last hit that ball hard and far scoring four 6s and with Jon Ralling started to put Hartest in the game.

   The script kept playing out as Bryant got his fifty and when Ralling was out with one bail dropping off also for a super 42 being in fantastic form with bat and ball in the last few weeks the pair had put on 100 runs a super effort but at 130 for three there was still work to be done.

   Ben Atkinson plundered a very quick 14 before holing out in the deep in typical style as Hannan joined Bryant but the end of the Captain came shortly after for a super 58 as M Atkinson joined Niall Hannan as a fresh pair with Tuddenham again buoyed by the fact they also had put on a spin attack with the run rate slowing down.

   A quiet part of the game where M Atkinson and Hannan steadied the ship just pinch hit a few singles as the team were well up on the run rate but wickets were falling and young Coverdale came on started to tie down the innings and bowled M Atkinson for 15 then Dave Armstrong going cheaply soon after Hannan had only the tail left to try and get over the line with the score on 162.

   Walton supported Hannan who was growing in stature and nibbling the runs down in a very tense atmosphere around the ground a hi light was a Walton big six but shortly after was out for 9 and Shaun Faires entered the fray carrying an injury held up his end as Hannan was becoming the key player now to the out come of the match.

   With just under two overs to go Hannan dispatched young Coverdale for two boundaries to win the game and make for a happy conclusion to Captain Bryant 3 year tender as Captain to a conclusion plus ending not out on 26 very well constructed runs to win the game.

   This was the last league game of the season just a six a side tournament next Sunday at Exning Captain Bryant last time in white? nah can't see that, last time as Captain, yes I can see that.

   One final foot note was the spirit and great fielding on the day where everyone contributed to the victory and team performances however on a serious note more players and a new Captain are required one of the most crucial appointments for the whole survival of the club some senior members are meeting later this week in a pre-empt to the AGM as new blood and effort throughout the club will be needed for the club to carry on going so please put the word out that next season starts now or there maybe no more which would be a travesty so please get behind the club and find some new players who will commit to playing next summer.

The Webmaster