Close but no Cigar - Defeat at Lakenheath

Hartest & Coldham Hall CC  169 All Out.

B Atkinson 48, D Armstrong 15, G Walton 15.

Lakenheath - 171 for 5

Dick Bond 81 Not Out.



   Andy Murray won at Wimbledon was it a day for Hartest to register their first victory, they won the toss and decided to bat first on a very hot scorching day, called summer.

   Mark Roberts resumed his opening position with Hannan in the absence of the injured Hodge, both players got starts with a lighting quick outfield where there was very little green grass on display.

   Captain Ben Atkinson was soon in and maintained his good form from the day before [Exning 134 runs] scoring a masterful 48 the top score falling just short of his half century being bowled.

   Sadly for William Bryant returning for his first game since his super ton a few weeks ago was less fortunate today.

   Dave Armstrong has been quite consistent with the bat and proved so again today with support from Gus Walton both falling for 15 runs, however the tail wagged a bit and the batting practise at the nets during the week seems to have shown some improvement as Jay Davenport and Richard Carter both scored their personal seasons best with 12, the latter [Carter] was not out plus hit a six.

   The total set was 169 which was very creditable but a good start was required with the ball on a fast outfield but alas that was not to be as Dick Bond [65] showed his experience with Trith who got very quickly with some wayward bowling from Walton.

   The club welcomed back Jack Armstrong and although being away over a year looked in good form with pace but the wicket was not helping him a lot and his Dad Dave Armstrong was quickly on and maybe in was written in the stars he finally got that first elusive wicket of the season a catch from Walton to make up some loose bowling to dismiss Trith for 22 but the score on 58 in 9 overs.

   Like buses Dave Armstrong struck with a sharp catch from Captain and Wicket keeper Atkinson standing up for a second wicket.

   Bond was running the show, shaken but not stirred he kept the score board ticking over the runs became harder to come by as Josh Borley bowling spin was having some turning success taking his first wicket for the club when Atkinson stumped Harding for zero.

   L Flack came in and scored a few  including a big six, but Richard Carter came on for his first bowl for the club and bowled Flack for 21, but the runs were coming to frequently on the fast outfield although the fielding was up to a very decent standard with a lot of effort and commitment being shown.

   Leach who scored a century in the home game was scoring freely but that man Carter took a catch off his own bowling a sharp fast one to show a glimmer of hope as Leech departed for 19.

   Overs were running out but that early fast start at the beginning of the run chase was to prove critical as Pallant came in and was very steady a few lusty blows from Bond finished the game in the 35th over and ended the day on 81 not out, he was dropped earlier in his innings plus a couple more drops could have made the difference with only a few youngsters left to come in at the bottom order.

   A week off with a re arranged friendly with our good friends Exning at the Park a chance for the skipper to experiment and a bit of freedom away from the league pressures.

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