Richards Defiance - but Stowmarket take the spoils.

Stowmarket CC      -   262  for 2

D Watling 111, P Blake 93.

Roberts 4-1-34-1

Hartest and Coldham Hall CC    -  128 - All Out

P Richards 65 Not Out


   A very strong Stowmarket team turned up at the Richards Oval all kitted out in uniform, won the toss and decided to bat, from the first ball which just fell short of being a six set the trend that it was going to be a long afternoon in the field.

   D Watling and the Stowmarket Skipper P Blake looked far to good to be playing in this league and for most of the time they knocked the ball around on a superb pitch which credit goes to Peter Richards and Shaun Faires plus others which was very much to the liking of the two openers from Stowmarket.

   The bowlers did the best they can and supported in the field which was quickly spread but after 19 overs when drinks were taken as the home team were looking for the ball in the field over the road was 133 for no wickets.

   Finally a break through when a miss field from M Atkinson then got the ball into wicket keeper John Ralling who threw the ball back to bowler Steve "Ghost" Ryder to whip the bails off to run Blake out for 93, it was near baseball like in the execution.

   Dave Armstrong bowled ten good overs and with a bit more luck could have picked up a couple of wickets but not to be this week.

   Captain Roberts was the only other bowler to have any joy when finally bowled Watling skipping down the wicket but for a 111 runs.

   Stowmarket innings closed on 262 for 2 a massive target to chase after tea and the feeling was that the bowling attack was probably equally as strong.

   After tea Captain Roberts opened with an old friend of the club who was making his first appearance for a couple of years at least that of Tom "Tiger" Wood.

   Stowmarket with such a target used there second string bowlers and sadly for Tom, he clipped a nice shot of his legs and a very good catch at square leg held above his head seemed indicative of the way the game and season has been this year.

   Roberts soon fell and 10 for 2 chasing 262 was probably game over with vice Captain scoring a six off his first ball but that was all, trying to replicate the shot was caught by man of the moment Watling.

   Ashwin Konacca a friend of Jack from the local shop played who had bowled the first ten overs then batted at four did very well have some luck others were not getting finding some gaps to avoid the catching fielders a few times.

 He and Jon Ralling put a few quick runs on the board but Ralling was also caught by Watling mistimed cover drive as wickets were falling until Peter Richards came in at seven with the score on 59 it seemed a hopeless task but after being dropped first ball he then turned the hands back of time, finding the middle of the bat even though hampered still by long term injury smashed at one point three fours in a row plus three sixes one which cleared the opposition changing room, fantastic, a champagne moment indeed.

   Konacca was out LBW, Dave Richards was unfortunate hooking and finding the fielder, Shaun Faires was stumped not quite realizing that the crease belongs to the fielding side, has to be behind it, which he was looking in good touch.

   Suddenly with Peter Richards blast took the home team to an unexpected batting point at 100 but better still with support from Nick Rutter the regular number eleven got to the 125 and another batting point before the man of the match Watling bowled Rutter to end the innings but leave a memorable 65 not out for Peter Richards, well done Peter, still got it!!

   Next week the team move to Cavendish away who are only just above Hartest in the league, could be a very tight affair, so come along and support the team.

The Webmaster.