Hartest and Coldham Hall CC   201 All Out

B Atkinson 109, R Melville-Ross 42,

Thurston CC   144 All Out

J Murray 32,  A Bendall 26,

D Armstrong 3-7, S Ryder 3-47

On a lovely warm day just made for Cricket the Captain won the toss and choose to bat, with a strong team on paper where two weeks ago it was hard to get elven this week he had the choice of 17 players to pick from for toady's game at Thurston.

Past games at Thurston have proven to be catastrophic, to sore to mention here again and the start made was looking like history may repeat itself.

It was good to have Hodge back and he opened with the legend of Roberts, but Thurston had Hartest reeling on 10 for three, Roberts from a ball that jagged back and Dave Armstrong playing the right shot but to the wrong ball, both told in their own words.

In steps the Captain with Rupert Melville-Ross, the Captain Ben Atkinson hit 10 sixes, [four in one over] 7 fours, ably supported invaluably by Rupert who got 42 including 2 sixes to turn the game on its head.

A fantastic bludgeoning performance before being caught by Thurston skipper Andy Bendall for 109, how they wished they had taken his scalp earlier with a middle order collapse to go with the early demise of wickets, however Steve Ryder with Jordan Marlow had a nice little stand at the end of the innings before Marlow was bowled for 10, leaving Ryder not out for 11 in the 35th over but the score having crept over to 201 all out.

After tea Thurston made a brisk start and the target was very achievable but the first ten or so overs could decide what the outcome would be at the end of the game.

Rupert Melville-Ross took a wicket in the third over which brought in Murray with the skipper Andy Bendall, this partnership blossomed and laid a super base for Thurston.

The partnership of 46 was broken when Steve "the ghost" Ryder with again the man of the match Captain Ben Atkinson stumped Andy Bendall for 26, a crucial break through.

Ellis joined Murray and the pair were steady but ticking over the score board, the lush outfield did no favours to good shots on the deck where the ball held up a bit and sometimes good shots were not always rewarded.

Overs were ticking by quite fast and pressure was mounting on the Thurston batsmen, they began to take more chances and Ryder struck again removing the dangerous Murray for 32.

Ryder took the wicket of Ellis giving him three wickets but some tiredness was creeping in on the hot day in the sun, the Captain brought on Dave Armstrong who straight away slowed the run rate down and overs running out the game was slipping away from the home side.

Hodge had come on to replace Rupert after his spell was over but was taking a bit of a tanking however he had the last laugh taking two wickets along with Dave Armstrong joining in with three wickets for next to nothing much in the run column.

Jordan Marlow was superb in the field along with his team mates plus taking a high hanging ball catch, never nice but he clung onto it, but Dickie Pearson, Mark Roberts, Charlie Long, young Oliver Melville-Ross who took a nice catch off sadly a clear no ball, all fielded well to back up the bowlers.

Oliver Melville-Ross came onto to capture the last wicket and seal another super win away on a ground that has in the past seen a few ugly performances from Hartest and Coldham Hall, but not today.

Next week we are at home to Rougham CC, come and support the boys to see if they can make it a hatrick of wins.

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