Bradenham vs Ley Hill, 23rd August 2003

Denis McCarthy

Ley Hill Seconds travelled to Bradenham contemplating their fate. Two league games to play and 23 points behind second place The Lee. After inspecting the pitch and a brief changing room tactical discussion, the decision was taken by captain Jones and the Hill were put into bat. So, 25 points it is then! 

In the idyllic setting of Bradenham’s ground, openers Steve Jones and Graham Harrison made slow progress. Jones, unable to build on last week’s superb century, went cheaply for 8. Chris Jones briefly entertained the crowd, all happily languishing on deck chairs in the afternoon sun, before himself joining his son in the pavilion on 13. The middle order then muscled down to the job in hand. Taking turns to keep Harrison company, big hitters Puddephatt and Stewart (left) went for 27 and 26, Graham crafting his way to the team’s top score of 36. Craddock out-lived promising colt Stuart Clarke (5) and promising OAP Dave Peterson, whose caught-behind for a golden duck was the contentious issue of the game!

McCarthy then joined Craddock, who was clearly out to enjoy the afternoon, eventually insisting on running himself out for 22. McCarthy was on 21 (thanks Dave P.) and Keith Richardson on 2, when captain Chris declared after 40 overs on 195 for 8.

If over tea, Ley Hill were worried about Bradenham’s reply, they needn’t have been. Unfortunately the opposition’s batting was as lacklustre as their tea. Peterson took his only scalp in his first over and Richardson (fortified by excessive amounts of Angel Cake) taking excellent advice from his captain, began racking up the wickets. Mention must be made to two great catches by Stuart Clarke. The second of which, when it eventually fell to earth, was covered in a thick layer of ice. After drinks, Puddephatt (apparently refreshed by orange squash and the prospect of free beer back at Ley Hill) skittled out three more before Green (pictured above right, fuelled by the appearance of a fire engine to the wedding reception next door) took the token last wicket .

A brief but enjoyable game in lovely surroundings.

Ley Hill: 195 for 8 (Harrison 36, Puddephatt 27, Stewart 26)
Bradenham 95 all out (Richardson 5 for 35, Puddephatt 3 for 29)
Ley Hill won by 100 runs

Man of the Match: Stuart Clarke for two excellent, and almost three, fantastic catches!
Clown of the Match: It has to be Dave Peterson, who walked on a caught-behind appeal, despite already having been given 'not out' by umpire Parkhouse. 

Click here for the scorecard