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29-04-06
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Our opening game of the 2006 season proved relatively comfortable for Stonham. Missing Richard Clements (injury), Edmund Player and Paul Adams
the heat could be felt on the grounds. Sadly the heat could not be felt weather-wise and consequently Cyril Rush (scorer) had to wear extra layers for the chilly afternoon ahead. The late inclusion
of Chris Johnson eased the fielding duties. Questions were to be answered in the bowling department with last season's in form bowler Mike Stickland unavailable for Saturday fixtures.
Stonham aimed to bat out the full allotment of 45 overs before pressurising their opponents in the late afternoon.
With the introduction of new rules enabling the fielding team to claim any unused overs from the batting team, Stonham began
with a cautious attitude. Charlie Tunstall was promoted to the top of the order after encouraging performances last season, and
was joined at the crease by Rob Wrinch. Tunstall began quickly, scoring 16 from four boundaries, including three in consecutive balls.
However, the following ball found its way past the bat and clipped off-stump. Wrinch son follwed in similar fashion, as a ball from Bumphreys
straightened and left Wrinch to return to the pavillion for 11. This brought John Hails and Simon Edgar to the crease. The pair solidified the
innings, and with little rish to their wickets they played on a partnership of 107. Eventually, with time running out, Hails and Edgar both passed
half centuries, but were caught for 53 and 52 respectively, attempting to form a daunting total. The remaining six and a half overs John Humphreys and
Stephen Lewis added 40 plus runs without losing their own stumps. This left Stonham with a score of 201-4 at tea (cooked by Eadie).
Defending a respectable total, Stonham took to the field confidently. Charlie Tunstall opened the bowling with Tom Prior. Tunstall quickly built up a head of steam and was soon harassing the batsmen. He struck early, demolishing Howe's middle stump and having A Bomfield caught easily at short leg by Stephen Lewis for a duck each. Prior struggled with his line after missing almost all of last season whilst touring in Australia, but showed some signs of the player who left these shores so long ago before coming off for Tom Lewis. Tom Lewis quickly found his groove, and dismissed Bellay for Capel's third '0' of the innings. Capel's opener Bumphreys reached his 50 before his side had made it to seventy, but showed signs of being able to cause some real damage. Bumphreys partnership with D Bomfield was ended by John Humphrey's first wicket of the season, while J Bolton also failed to add to the tally. However, the breakthrough came shortly after the introduction of Jeff Lewis to the bowling attack. In a tactically motivated decision, captain Simon Edgar decided to change the pace of the game by bringing in Jeff Lewis' left-arm around-the-wicket turn. It paid dividends almost immediately, when Bumphreys failed to protect his stumps whilst on 63. With this the Capel resistance appeared to be wane and the only input from the Capel tail was a valiant late 28 from Howe. The innings was ended when Howe was caught at the long-off boundary by Johnny Hails off the bowling of Rob Wrinch.
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