Winterton v Drayton 13th June 2009
Winterton 162 Drayton 163-6 A fine team performance saw Drayton end Winterton's 100% start to the season. Drayton won the toss and after much discussion amongst the senior players it was agreed that Drayton should bowl. Michael Mario-Ghae was late arriving and in his absence Winterton got off to a flying start reaching 40-0 after just nine overs. Mario-Ghae was introduced into the attack and Lee Cornfield changed to bowling round the wicket at the right handers, and the pair were able to reel off six maidens on the trot. Mario-Ghae speared a leg stump delivery through the defences of Austin to leave Winterton 42-1 after 16 overs.
The experienced pairing of Clarke and Roper decided the best form of defence was attack - with 34 added in the next 7 overs, before Cornfield gained his just reward with the wicket of Roper in his final over - LBW after a prolonged and passionate plea from the bowler to the umpire! Cornfield then produced two snorting deliveries to the dangerous Witheridge on his arrival at the crease to finish his spell - his figures of 1-38 were scant consolation. Thereafter Phil Soanes took over - bowling with clever mastery of flight and control, which had been missing from his bowling thus far this season - he claimed 6-33 in 9.5 overs. Aided by smart catches by Ravi Dave, Andy Hawes and Mario-Ghae, plus a dazzling leg side stumping from Howard Davies. Winterton's final total of 162 was at least 20 shy of what Drayton had anticipated chasing.
On starting their reply, Drayton knew that either one batsman had to play a significant innings or everyone had to chip in - in this case it was the latter as six batsmen scored 17 or more. Openers Andy Hawes (29) and Philip Wright (32) added 65 for the first wicket (the 5th opening partnership of over 50 in 7 first team games this season), and then James Reeve (26, including some elegant shots through the leg side) and James Kay (33) added 56 for the 4th wicket. Michael Mario-Ghae too two sighters on his way to 17 from 8 balls, before being caught just inside the one long boundary on the ground. At 144-6 with 5 overs to go, Drayton could have capitulated, but the calm head od Howard Davies along with the rugged determination of captain Soanes saw Drayton to victory with 15 balls to spare.