On a very windy day, Long Melford won the toss and asked us to bat. Once again the top order failed to fire, and with the score on 15 for 3 things did not look too good. But Dave Brooker, ably assisted first by Will Bradshaw, than later by Will Dunn, took the score to 95 – 4 at the drinks break, off 22 overs. But after this wickets fell quickly, Dave Brooker going for a very useful 52, and the tail collpased, with unfortunate debutante Ashley Philips out for a golden duck, LBW, and Colin Bocking run out backing up.. Earls Colne all out 122.
After a tea break that DID NOT INCLUDE egg sandwiches (should we report this to the league?), Melford quickly stumbled themselves, with beautiful tight bowling from Ben Mason accounting for all three. Marks and Henbury then came together at 15-3 and took the score to 72-3 before both fell in quick succession. The bamboozling bowling of Colin Bocking (aka Mr Slow) with three wickets, and a coouple from Oakers helped to bring the score back to 92-8, and an unlikely victory seemed within reach, but the score ticked painfully towards 123 and no further wickets were taken. Great fielding from all, including Ashley, helped to keep the game tight right until the end.
Earls Colne 122 – 10, Long Melford 123-8. Long Melford 20 points. Earls Colne 5 points
Full scoresheet here