Ley Hill v Prestwood, 2nd August 2003
Tom Holman
Ley Hill were the victims of their own success in this game, posting a huge score that was always out of the reach of opponents Prestwood, who killed the match as a contest by stonewalling from the start of their chase.
Stand-in captain Paul Humphreys, surely one of the most diplomatic leaders in Ley Hill's history, chose to bat first on a sunny afternoon and on a pitch about 12 yards from the boundary. Though Graham "Audley" Harrison departed for a single, club stalwart Brian Puddephatt and new recruit Chris East then settled in for the duration, both notching up centuries in a mammoth second wicket partnership. Puddephatt, who has been threatening to retire for the last ten seasons, rolled back the years in a superb 101, while East, a pre-season signing on the Bosman ruling from Bellingdon, rattled up 117 to pay back some of his transfer fee. With some late hitting from Ian Webb, Hill closed on a daunting 270 for 5.
Prestwood, struggling in the league
this year after the transfer of their star players Ian Stewart and Mark Curtis
to the mighty Hill, were never in the hunt in reply, and Hill's attack never
looked likely to take the ten wickets required. Prestwood eventually crawled to
178 for 5, and even notorious partnership breaker Paul Green could only snare
two victims. This was a setback in the Seconds' promotion charge, but there is
still time to stake a claim for Division Two cricket next season.
Ley Hill: 270 for 5 (East 117, Puddephatt 101)
Prestwood: 178 for 5 (Green 2 for 28)
Match drawn
Man of the match: Awarded jointly to Brian Puddephatt and Chris East for
fine centuries
Clown of the match: Graham Harrison, who can't have helped but feel he
missed out as he watched the second wicket partnership unfold