Ketteringham Hall v Drayton 11th July 2009

Ketteringham Hall 223-5 Drayton 217

For the second week running, Drayton lost a tight game in which they played solid cricket for long periods. Hall were invited to bat first on a good looking surface, which played well - albeit with the occasional low bounce - and with a fast outfield. Michael Mario-Ghae removed Butler early but otherwise breakthroughs (and chances) werefew and far between. Left armer Gary Smith was introduced for his first bowl of the season - quickly hitting a good line and length and getting some movement thanks to the favourable overhead conditions.

Smith picked up three wickets - including a smart return catch to dismiss Bush - to finish with impressive figures of 3-42. The original request when called to bowl of "two or three overs" deservedly turning into a twelve over spell. Some late big hitting by Vincent, who hit three sixes in his 35, saw the home side to 223-5. Their innings was anchored by opener Bobbin who batted through 45 overs for his 62 not out.

In reply Drayton lost three wickets in a six over spell to Shaun Parsons as they slipped from 43-0 to 65-3., but Andy Hawes and Michael Mario-Ghae restored the innings with a partnership of 52. When Hawes was bowled by Walker for 43, Drayton had reached 117 with 20 overs remaining and looking in some sort of control. Gary Smith joined Mario-Ghae and together they added a further 72. Mario-Ghae, belligerent as ever, survived four chances before eventually falling for 77 - including 5 sixes. Smith, along with James Reeve saw the score to 208, before he was caught on the boundary for 39, and thereafter wickets fell regularly as Drayton fell seven short of their target with two balls of the innings unused. Perera, the sixth of seven bowlers used by the home side returned the extraordinary figures of 7.4-0-19-4 - particularly impressive in that he was not introduced to the attack until the 31st over when Mario-Ghae was in full flow.

Having lost two such tight games, Drayton will hope to get back to winning ways against in form Hardingham on Saturday. Congratulations to young Zino Mario-Ghae on winning the Junior High Jump at the National Schools Athletics Championship at the weekend.