Drayton 'A' v Hales 'A' 13th June 2009

"Trett’s Seven Up has Drayton Crowe-ing (ouch!)" Hales 'A' 137 Drayton 'A' 139-3 Drayton captain Graham Crowe won the toss and chose to field. The out-cricket was tighter than the previous week: Neil Chamberlain had an assured game behind the stumps, while Jamie Scarff and Marc Gridley kept control against some skilful batting from Bass and Lindsey on a good batting surface. Scarff’s opening six overs (for 11 runs) were his most accurate of the season so far. Gridley, easing his way back into the season, bowled his twelve overs on the run and he removed Bass with a good caught and bowled from a hard hit drive.

While Lindsey anchored one end, a succession of young Hales batsmen came in to hit some elegant drives to the boundary. At the other end from these teenagers, wily near veteran (by comparison) Jason Trett bowled accurately, beating the bat frequently and showing a knack for clean bowling any batsman who had the temerity to hit him for four. On one occasion, the bail landed a metre from the boundary.

The experienced Knights batted well to finish on 23 not out, but Drayton managed to get the new batsmen on strike long enough for Trett to blow away the tail and finish with 7-30 (six bowled) from his twelve overs.

When Mike Sutton and Nigel Massingham opened the Drayton innings, they proceeded carefully against two young and highly promising Hales opening bowlers, each of whom took a wicket as Drayton were reduced to 5-2 in the fifth over. Thereafter, Massingham and Crowe dug and built the partnership which finally broke the hearts of Hales, who impressed all afternoon with their spirit, skill and good sportsmanship.

Both Drayton batsmen built on their performances from last week. Massingham continued to anchor the innings, finishing with 40 not out and Skipper Crowe (69) reached a very popular fifty with a flurry of boundaries in the 27th over.

Next week, Drayton travel to play the first of two back-to-back matches against Winterton, just above them in the table.