Another Home Degeat to Stowmarket

Stowmarket 208 for 9

P Blake 63, C Watling 40, S Lilley 29.

C Long 4 -52, H Brouder 2-36,

Hartest and Coldham Hall CC  111 All Out

B Atkinson 32, C Long 26 Not Out, P Griffiths 16.

I was not at the game until just after tea so the reports as the scorebook may not tell the whole truth of the afternoon but the bits I do know are below.

First a thank you to Steve and Zoe Ryder for doing half teas along with Judith Atkinson, Steve still with Zoe produced a good tea, based on not much left when I arrived and the fact he was injured last week so was not playing, these are the highlights to get mentioned first in the predicament of the club's survival and commitment, also Mrs Webmaster who did teas again.

Second thank you to Peter Richards who dropped out for Charlie Long to play and get involved with umpiring and cutting the pitch along with Nick Rutter also umpiring a significant amount in the last few games plus Nick and Dave Sunday morning ritual at the pitch and the Swan.

I do not know who won the toss but Stowmarket batted first, the openers appeared to make a solid start with one early wicket falling to Dickie Pearson.

Stowmarket man of the match [chosen by them] scored 63 before being caught off Dave "the Pink Panther" Armstrong [nothing to do with me Dave] who picked up a second wicket in his ten over spell.

Charlie Long who had his significant other in attendance [must come more] produced his finest performance of this season with bat [more later] and ball taking a commendable 4 wickets with I thought surprising amount of catches held in the field today, then I heard we put a couple or three down but that's Cricket and nobody drops them on purpose.

C Watling scored 40 not out and that pushed up the total to 208 at he end of the 40 overs, I noticed though the extras column stood out at 29, last week 22, and 57 the week before, to many.

Hardly any tea for when I arrived but that's a good sign, even better was no washing up for me to do, although the scorebook called, and the openers of Carter and Pearson were out in the middle.

I think in about the 10th or 12th over Richard Carter was caught trying to up the run rate, he had a couple of near misses but his luck ran out, this brought in the super inform Captain Ben Atkinson who second ball sent one across the road for six.

The run rate with Dickie Pearson watching went up but Dickie tried to join in and then joined me with the boys back in the pavilion for 12.

Niall Hannan and so good to see his Dad come up and watch relive a few golden memories....... a minute later we were back watching, but the good news he had not pulled his hamstring in that time!!!

The skipper moved the score on but it was again going to be a big ton to win the game and finally he holed out and the catch was taken by young starlet of the future Stuart Lilley, watched by his Grandad and Grandmother proudly telling me he is representing Suffolk under 18s a few times, off to Huntingdon for a two day game this week, didn't bowl today as he has been bowling a lot for Suffolk, well done to him and Stowmarket bringing on the youngsters.

The skipper departed for 32, Peter Griffiths the welsh wizard opened his account last week in one over of 4, 4, 6, he did the same again today and nearly lapped a player with his quick running on a single!!!

Unsurprisingly he was run out, but great potential with the bat undoubtedly, we also had a father and son combo, new one from the village I believe, Anthony [Dad] and Harvey Brouder [Son] the dad won the batting rights with 3, better luck next time Harvey, although he did take a couple of wickets in his five over spell and a catch.

Also a new player called Tom Campbell-Todd played today, took a catch and we welcome them all and more who will get better and hopefully enjoyed the team banter and the Cricket.

As you can tell the wickets were falling all with the exception of Charlie Long [notice I said I'd come back to this, I like a plan] he batted well in front of his beloved and scored a creditable 26 not out, running out of partners and the final score of 111 all out, many experienced players missing, a lot of new players playing for the first time in a while, the Captain has done exceptionally well to encourage the new and old players to have fun, give everyone a go where the defeat was always likely, hopefully not missed in the going's on the pitch.

Next week we are away from the Richard Oval, we travel to Brockley, looking to do the double over them, and get the first away win of the season, the skipper will again contact via text for availability.

Hopefully I have not missed to much or got to much wrong, but thanks to all that contributed on and off the field, remember if the pink panther spoke he would have said without doubt, "Fun in the Sun boys".

Webmaster