Hall Hamered in the Sun

Long Melford  CC    290 for 5


B Byford 163 Not Out,  C Stace 50,


D Armstrong 2-53, R Carter 1-34.


Hartest and Coldham Hall CC   49 all out


J Borley 12, N Hannan 11, M Atkinson 8.


D Routledge 5 - 28,  C Stace 3 - 0,






Long Melford must have felt they were playing the Australians as the performance was similar, big well done from the website to English Cricket regaining the Ashes.


Hot sunny day, fantastic for cricket, a super prepared pitch and the Captain losing the toss only meant a long slog in the field, it was probably longer than we thought.


Excuses first, the farmers, holidays, took away 5 first teamers and that is never helpful, in Division three we may have got away with it but not Division Two and that is why this club in its current standing should be in Division Three, also only fair to the opposition that we can manage to make a game of it for them.


However, Long Melford with our old friend Matt Hoadley including new son making an appearance are contending for Division One, I feel they are capable of making it and do truly hope they can compete, plus enjoy the experience.


Matt opened the batting and with great banter, faced up against Mark Roberts who opened the bowling, Matt did not succumb to Roberts but he did get caught out by Richard Carter who had an impressive opening spell.


However Roberts did enjoy taking a wicket when much improved this season in all aspects of the game Josh Borley took a catch to dismiss the other opener Brett for 30, the score was 80 for 2 but in the 14th Over, runs were coming a plenty.


The main run machine was B Byford, well what to say, he played exceptionally well with Stace who was quickly nicknamed W G Grace, and he middle the ball from ball one, albeit baseball style, a potential champagne moment was that he holed out to Nick Rutter hanging onto a catch just as he reached his fifty off the bowling of Dave Armstrong.


But back to Byford, simply, he got runs, lots of runs, as and when he felt like, did not appear in trouble, played plenty of good shots, moved his feet, not really troubled at any time, he went past his 100 with only giving one a very difficult chance but gave a few after as he hit out, however the tiring fielders a bit demoralised dropped him along with the other batsmen.


B Byford came in 163 undefeated, super job, maybe the bowling attack was not the best we could have had playing but nevertheless he still had to do it and the bowlers did try their best , plus the pitch was a belter but Byford was better.


A fantastic tea from Donna and Shaun Faires ably assisted with Emily and Hollie helping, probably the hi light of the Hartest and Coldham Hall day.


Mark Atkinson opened the batting with Josh Borley and the only thing that can be said was the two stayed in the longest, six overs, plus Josh top scored with 12 and Mark Atkinson 3rd top score with 8, not great, but wickets tumbled at regular intervals, very regular, both the main two batters were probably tired through earlier exertions, Captain Ben Atkinson 4, Mark Roberts not many.


Niall Hannan was interesting innings of first ball trying to hit for six running down wicket, then reverse sweeping, nearly ran out twice before he came to some common sense and batted well for 11.


Joe Horgan, helped out the club again with numbers very thin on the ground, fielded well and although not comfortable with batting got a run before he also returned to the pavilion.


In the seventeenth over the game was up as C Stace bowling spin moped up the last three wickets for 0 runs to end the innings on 49 all out the worst total of the season.


The good points were the very good atmosphere from both teams, it is refreshing to see Long Melford enjoy the fun which was had and it carried on down the Swan when both teams intermingled and chatted about the game we all love but perhaps can't always play as well as we would like, just to say thanks to Long Melford, good luck to them and see you back again soon.


Next week we return to the Oval, we welcome Walsham who top the table and will also be stiff opposition, however we are hoping to have one or two players back, but whether they are or not the 11 on the pitch will no doubt try their best as they always do when the Hartest and Coldham shirt is on our backs.


Another early date and it has been booked is the end of season awards and dinner, to be held at our sponsors The Swan Public House on October the 17th, time plus menu will follow leading up but put a note in the diary now!


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