Down to the Last Over against Tuddenham

Hartest and Coldham Hall CC 203 for 8


D Hodge 76, R. Melville-Ross 38, D Armstrong 27 Not Out.


R Pettit 5-29


Tuddenham CC  204 for 5


J Shimmen 69, D Cross 54, J Presland 37.


R Nunn 3.3 - 2 - 3 -3


39.3 Overs.


If, buts and maybes by the end of the game, a small margin between the two sides which resulted in an entertaining game played in good spirit.


With the Captain out of the country former Captain Mark Roberts stepped into the breach and lost the toss to Tuddenham who decided to bowl first up.


Hodge and Carter opened the batting on a bit of a stodgy pitch but all credit to the ground staff to get the game on as there was some serious doubt in the early hours of the day.


Richard Carter with his new bat and intending to play again next season was the first wicket to fall to Pettit the pick of the Tuddenham bowlers on the day being caught for 5.


The Captain took a chance and put Peter Richards into bat early but very shortly returned back to the pavilion passing the Captain Mark Roberts on the way to the crease.


Roberts and Hodge who looked in little difficulty was striking the ball well hitting two early sixes and Roberts supporting him as the pair took the score onto 49 when a very slow spinner bowled Roberts who nearly had two goes at striking the ball but missed both times and returned with 14 to his name.


The return of Rupert Melville-Ross entered the fray first time for about 5 years and promptly struck up a good partnership with Hodge who was going about his business, the pair put on 87 runs in which time Hodge passed his fifty and then some before being bowled by the returning Pettit on his second spell for a fantastic 76 caught but the batsman had crossed significantly with Melville- Ross bowled by Pettit next ball exiting stage right for 38.


The inform Jack Armstrong and Steve Ryder came together with Jack straight away looking in good touch but that was deceiving, let off being dropped soon found the same man same position same short but this time he held on and was out for 7 and the score on 143.


Richard Nunn with Steve the "Ghost" Ryder kept the scoreboard ticking over and the pitch was drying out and the ball behaving a bit better but the outfield was very slow many shots in previous weeks would have got to the boundary were falling short.


Overs were ticking away the home side felt confident with the score on the board but this was enhanced after Nunn was bowled Dave Armstrong [just can't keep those Armstrong boys quiet] found some sweet form with the bat seemingly not in any difficulty on his way to 27 not out with the help of Gus Walton good running between wickets as Ryder in an effort to more the score forward was caught for 16.


At the end of the 40 overs and 8 wickets down the team had got to a very creditable 203 where upon tea was taken which thanks goes to the Roberts and Atkinson's stepping in to do savoury and Steve and Zoe doing the cakes all were very delicious indeed like all our teas all season, one trophy we win every season.


After tea the fire power of Melville-Ross and Jack Armstrong was potent, fast bowling at it's best with new wicket keeper Steve Ryder who for a first attempt and facing two very fast bowlers was exceptionally good, the best compliment was we soon didn't realise it was his first go with the gloves but a big well done to him and will certainly be in with a chance to do it again for sure.


Back to the game, major credit goes to Tuddenham opening pair of Smith and Shimmen who got in, stuck in and even got the ball away for some runs, but the bowling was equally as good, but with maybe the best performing bowlers against the best batsman then Tuddenham won that battle, the reason was at the 20 over mark74 for 1 but the 1 needed to be for 3 or 4 to secure victory.


After drinks the Tuddenham team teed off smashing the ball all over the ground every bowler was being targeted and with 9 wickets still inn the hutch the chase was becoming easier and easier.


When Hartest got there next wicket a great catch by Jack Armstrong out in the deep off the bowling of Hodge, Tuddenham had 135 on the board with still overs and wickets in hand, Cross was again a thorn in the Hartest side scoring rather nonchalantly and it was without doubt Tuddenham game to lose now such a strong position there top order batsmen had got them to a wining position.


Enter Richard Nunn given the chance to bowl with the score on 185 for 2 six overs to go and Tuddenham in cruise control until Richard had a tight first over but his second which finally took the wicket of Cross who just received applause for his fifty was bowled and then in his next over bowled Presland for a unorthodox 37 but only now three overs to go the Tuddenham banter was very quiet but still the odds favoured the visitors.


With two runs needed to win David Hodge bowled a maiden over to the shock of the away team and the game was going into a final over, dot ball, followed by another dot ball, could the impossible happen...... no, Philip Titcombe decided to come down the wicket and swing his bat which went over the inner field of fielders where Jack Armstrong chase and throw in nearly caused a run out but just missed the stumps and Tuddenham had in the end scraped home in an  exhilarating game of cricket.


The Ifs, maybe's, and hindsight could have changed with a catch going down, a run out not given, the old certain LBW not given, its hard to say what might have been but what can be said was a very good game of cricket was had by all the players and spectators who braved the chilly wind.


No game next week, the games are running out with three to go before the final curtain comes down on the season, next up is Bardwell away which the Captain will be back and no doubt sending out a text for availability.


Webmaster