Hartest beats Acton in Low Scoring Game

Acton CC   107 All Out


A Cooper 31, N Wright 19.


D Hodge 4 - 13, R Carter 3 - 40, R Pearson 2 - 19, Long 1 -  28.


Hartest and Coldham Hall CC  112 For 4


B Atkinson 67 Not Out,


First home game of the season was against promotion team Acton CC and they won the toss but in all fairness it was probably the only thing they ended up winning.


Acton who had been out on a late night started slowly but good bowling from Charlie Long and Vice Captain Richard Carter made scoring heavy weather.


A very sharp catch from Mark Roberts in the second over saw the back of Ponsford for 1 run, it was a very good catch however 6 more catches were dropped in the innings of Acton.


Cooper and Wright who had a charmed life with three catches and a missed stumping must have thought he was on for a hundred but the one wicket Charlie Long got was an edge to Captain and Keeper Ben Atkinson taking two more catches later in the innings.


Richard Carter was bowling and moving the ball on the pitch another well done to Peter, Dave and Nick plus anyone else preparing the pitch. Richard had Cooper caught behind then bowled Martin, with 20 overs 72 for 4 the Acton team knew they had to get the scoreboard turning over quicker.


Change of bowling when David Hodge with Richard Pearson came on and seemed to strangle hold the Acton attack, movement off the pitch with a bit of swing, Richard impressed on his first outing with the ball for Hartest and Coldham.


But it was David Hodge who was the beneficiary of Richard plus the previous bowlers who capitalised with direct bowling at those three wooden stumps hitting them four times with only Fisher scoring 16 the Acton team were all out for 107.


Tea came from Judith and Mark Atkinson, doing the savoury and Richard Carter doing the dessert, all very nice with plenty to go around, plus another debutant Simon Lovegrove played but was not in the drop catching club which had a few members including myself although I did hang onto one eventually.


Support from family members and Jim Armitage plus wife and boys came up to watch plus Jim did some scoring and Peter Richards who is currently injured came up and did a bit of umpiring, thanks to all including Anna Hodge, Rosie Roberts plus Nick doing the clearing up, anyone I've forgotten my apologies but all much needed to help the club exist.


Hartest opened up with Hodge and Roberts, 108 to win on a pitch that could and was giving something to the bowlers was no fore gone conclusion, however with 22 runs on the board Roberts gloved one behind, the wobble began.


Must mention Acton opening bowlers French and Sturgeon who were quick and definitely not giving up along with the rest of the Acton team.


Captain Ben Atkinson came in at three and promptly lost Hodge bowled for 12, Charlie Long arrived at the crease who was surviving some hostile bowling all credit for Acton they smelt blood but Charlie and Captain Ben held firm, digging in slowly eking out runs, but with the total on 37 Charlie was caught at backward point for 5.


The game was on, Acton knew they needed Captain Ben Atkinson out and 108 was then going to be a very tough ask, he changed bats and began to take the game to Acton, finding boundaries taking the bowling attack on and winning.


Dave Armstrong didn't get much of the strike but was supporting and keeping wickets in hand if required, but the Acton pressure was diminishing with Captain Ben Atkinson playing a true Captain's innings, wasn't pretty but it was effective, 4 sixes, and 6 fours on his way to an unbeaten 67 saw the team over the winning line.


Dave Armstrong was bowled for 9 just before the winning runs were scored in the 19th over, Richard Pearson was not out 2 as the big six finished the game.


Two seasons ago in Division Two, Hartest and Coldham did not win a game all season, this season in three games the team have two victories, a massive well done to all the team that moved up from Division Three the team has already had a successful start to a season where we wondered if history would repeat itself, it hasn't and lets keep on playing and enjoying our Cricket.


The Cricket team went for the first time in a couple of years to the Swan Public House, sad are the reasons why which the club members are aware of the tragedy that happened but we must thank The Swan who welcomed us and brought out some Chips for both teams on the house.


No game next week so a Bank Holiday off, we return in two weeks with an Away game at Long Melford on May 31st.


Webmaster.