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13-05-06
click here for match scorecard
Local rivals Stowupland hosted Earl Stonham's third game of the season on another
mirky Saturday afternoon. Ed Player was kept from the game by the hand injury he
suffered last week against Worlington, and Richard Clements also missed the game due
to his ongoing knee problem. They were replaced by Tom Lewis and Tom Prior who returned
from their Duke of Edinburgh and German expeditions respectively. Jeff Lewis and David
Eade were especially anxious to score a good result against their former team, and the
rest of the side were more than aware that they were playing for local bragging rights
and not just the league points on offer.
For the third week in a row Stonham won the toss and elected to bat. Following an early
morning shower the pitch was wet but playable, and very hard beneath the surface. With
mearly one over completed the heavens opened and Stonhams openers were forced from the
pitch. Heavy rain and even a hail storm continued for some time but eventually the captains
decided to resume play and reduce the game to a 35-over encounter. Rob Wrinch and Charlie
Tunstall opened and were given the unenviable task of batting in the worst of the conditions.
Both made slow but solid starts with boundaries at a premium. Despite this they each battled
hard before passing the fifty partnership mark. Tunstall eventually fell on 27 to a ball
which held up on the sticky wicket, presenting an easy catch from his leading edge. As the
outfield dried the ball began to carry to the boundary more frequently. The in-form Johnny
Hails started well, finding the boundary twice before being dismissed for 14 to a dubious
caught-behind appeal. Simon Edgar came in at number four, and for the second time in two weeks
he could only watch as Wrinch accelerated the run rate with a crushing and irresitable force.
Edgar was dismissed on 6 to another ball that held up on the pitch. David Eade unfortunately
provided his old team mates some post-match artillary as his off stump was taken and he failed
to add to the tally. Paul Adams came in at number six and added fifteen hard hit runs, while
also doing plenty of the running between the stumps from Wrinch's shot play. Wrinch eventually
reached his century in the 35th and last over of play. Adams was unfortunately run out seeking
a quick double on the second last ball of the innings. Stonham finished on a very respectable
183 for 5, a score they would of been very happy with before the start of play.
Charlie Tunstall and John Humphreys opened the bowling for Stonham and quickly put Stowupland
under pressure. Both bowled impressively tight spells without breaking through, ending with 0-27
and 1-17 respectively. At the first change of bowlers Stowupland were behind the required run rate
but had wickets to spare. Shaun Langford took charge of battering most of Stowupland's runs, showing plenty
of slogging power but little of the finesse of Wrinch's earlier innings. Shortly before passing his
fifty he was put down by Stephen Lewis from a looping catch from Jeff Lewis' bowling. After passing
the half-century mark a Tom Prior delivery made Langoford sky another ball high into the air, and this time
Simon Edgar took the swirling catch deep into his gloves, minimising the cost of the earlier Stephen
Lewis drop. Prior bowled well, beating the bat and finding the edge frequently before he ended with 1-26.
With the brakethrough made Jeff Lewis then produced a delightful slower ball which teased Johnson into
knocking the ball straight back to the bowler. Jeff Lewis held on to the stinging catch to remove the
dangerous number three. With Stonham recognising that they had removed the most dangerous players from
the Stowupland batting attack they then turned to concentrating on completing the overs before rain or
bad light could affect the result. Jeff Lewis bowled impressively all innings, taking another catch from
his own bowling before ending on 3-30. He also knocked off the bales after a clever bit of fielding from
Paul Adams, running out Wray as Stowupland attempted to chase their required total. Simon Edgar continued to
impress with the gloves as he produced two stumpings from the tempting slow bowling on offer. Batting hero
Rob Wrinch came into the bowling attack and speedily completed his overs. Wrinch gained a wicket when Stevens
knocked a comfortable catch to Johnny Hails, and in the final over of the day took three wickets for just one run, ending on 133.
Stowupland ended with just one wicket remaining, a full 50 runs behind Stonham's score. However,
the remaining wicket will cost Stonham a league point since without dismissing the whole side only
19 points can be obtained from the possible 20. Stonham were excellent in the field with little
exception. Tom Prior and Tom Lewis in particular looked lively and consistent for the full
35 overs.
Following the match there was a mild and quiet gentlemanly celebration involving some of the squad
members. With bragging rights firmly secured for a couple of months (at least) the Crown hosted as
Stonham drank their well-earned shandys. After the evenings shinanigans we hope that Charlie will
be sober enough to play again next weekend.
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