Better Performance but still a Defeat.

Hartest and Coldham Hall CC  153 - 8

Hodge Not Out 67  - D Armstrong 32

Vaughan 6 for 30

BSSSC   157 - 2

Partridge Not Out 89


   Captain Roberts lost the toss and the home skipper Partridge asked Hartest and Coldham to bat seemingly on a very good track prepared by the Culford School.

   Captain Roberts was caught behind very early with no score on the board and after last week batting collapse the doubts began to surface plus Vice Captain Ben Atkinson soon following after a rash shot selection.

   One good thing that came out of last weeks game finishing early was the capture of batter number four as Ben Pilo-Beech entered the fray and showed some class shots but sadly over to soon falling for 13 and the score at 58 for 3.

   Dave Armstrong and David Hodge put on a terrific 65 runs battling it out and looking quite impressive with some scintillating shots around the park.

   With overs running out plus the opening bowler Vaughan came back towards the end of the innings saw a clatter of wickets but Hodge remained firm and went past his fifty as the target was to get to the 150 for another batting point which was achieved in the final over and Hodge carried his bat through the full amount of overs for eight wickets a total of 153 was set, by far the best batting of the season so far.

Tea

After tea BSSSC took to the task of chasing down the total and where Hartest needed early wickets they did not come or look like coming even though Ben Pilo-Beech was steaming into bowl furiously making the batsmen jump about but credit to the opening batsman Vaughan and the BSSSC skipper Partridge they dug in plus got quick singles plus odd boundaries to keep score board ticking over.

   A combination of bowling changes saw any elusive wickets which were very much needed but it took a wonderful catch from new man Ben Pilo-Beech one handed low diving to dismiss Vaughan for 38 but the total was on 85 and the writing was already on the wall.

   Partridge went past his fifty and was in very good form, seeing the ball like a beech ball plus not giving any chances away, as they neared the score Hartest picked up one more bowling point when on a second spell from Pilo-Beech he got an edge to Hodge in the slip, taking a super catch with the speed it was travelling he held on to return the catch Pilo-Beech took for his wicket earlier.

   Rutter came on to bowl with the dying embers of the game about to flicker out and turned the ball a lot to give Partridge his only real concern in his innings of 89 not out as they got to the target set in the 30th over.

   A far better game from Hartest and Coldham CC but looked short of runs on a good wicket plus needed that bit of luck as a bowling outfit to secure the first victory of the season.

   NOTE - Brettenham which was an early season postponement has been rearranged for next Sunday away on the 26th May with a few key players away on holiday or family commitments it could be a tough game so come along if you can and support the team looking for that first victory of the season.