Haverhill Sunday Firsts vs Mellis
6th September 2009

Haverhill won the toss and elected to bat on a very dry and crumbly wicket. Opening Batsmen Rob Sullivan and Phil Dingley started steadily until Sullivan dispatched the match ball into the road. This sparked the start of a mini run fest. Dingley fell, however, and Dan Poole set about building a large total. Poole nudged the ball around to give the big hitting Sullivan the strike. The pair put on 82 to take Haverhill to 103-1 at the drinks break. What occurred next was almost unbelievable. Tim Courridge was introduced into the attack and struck 3 times in his first over. Poole holed out at mid off, Savage was bowled first ball and Proctor mistimed a sweep to leave the score on 103-4. One run came off the over at the other end. Then Sullivan also perished when he looked dead set for his first century of the season. Chris Thompson and Joey Kettle stayed together for a while but both fell to Courridge. This left Haverhill reeling on 121-7 and Courridge had figures of 5-6. Sharpe and Lewis were also victims of Courridge and when Watkins fell bowled at the other end, Haverhill had lost 9 wickets for only 20 runs to leave them on a very unimpressive 123 all out. 

 After tea, Haverhill knew only a rousing bowling performance would provide them with victory. Captain Joe Woodley opened and struck immediately, knocking B Box’s middle stump out of the ground. Woodley then removed the very dangerous Farrant off a fine catch from Rob Sullivan, and M Prior first ball with some pacey and straight bowling. Sullivan came into the attack and nipped out his fellow Australian, D Spence. Stringer soon followed to leave Mellis 71-5. Joey Kettle replaced the tiring Woodley and began nervously, however once he settled down, he found a good rhythm and bowled Courridge for 7. Sullivan kept on firing and made the most important breakthrough, that of M Spence, caught on the boundary well by Liam Savage. This left Mellis on 89-7 and the game could have gone either way. Kettle removed Mellis skipper Williamson, again thanks to a fine catch from Sullivan. Woodley re-introduced himself into the attack and had green adjudged LBW. Sullivan also returned and bowled Morgan to leave Mellis all out for 116 and 7 runs short. A great victory for Haverhill who had Rob Sullivan’s man of the match performance to largely thank.

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