Ampton and Culford vs Haverhill Firsts

 Haverhill travelled to 2009 Champions Ampton and Culford knowing only a top performance would suffice to avoid defeat. Woodley won the toss and decided to go with what has worked for them this season and bowl. Despite Russell Davis and Liam Botten bowling well and economically, the wickets did not appear.C Rutterford hit any loose bowling while Baker nudged and nurdled the ball around. With the score on 69-0 off 17 overs, Woodley came on to remove Rutterford caught and bowled for 38. This sparked a collapse in which Ampton fell to 160-8 off their 40 overs. Dean Sharpe replaced Davis and bowled his 10 overs straight through. The seam and swing movement was put to great use by Sharpe who achieved 2-48 and had Baker on the floor in his 5th over after a vicious bouncer. The highlight of his spell was the removal of the highly rated C Estlea for only 13. He was ably supported by Adam Dellar who bowled his off spin with great flight and guile. He removed S Rutterford, Goodwin and Baker with in part thanks to sound catching. Sam Pass came on to claim a scalp and finish off the innings. Ampton had finished on 160-8 off their 40 overs and Havehill had a sniff of beating them.
 Openers Sam Hartshorn and Steve Fox started brightly and had helped Haverhill to 19-0 before Hartshorn top edged a pull for 9. This brought Adam Dellar to the crease. Fox hit a ball to mid on called for a quick single and run out the first team captain for 0. He hadn’t faced a ball. Fox continued to dig in after this and try put this right. Russell Davis came in and played his usual flamboyant innings. He smashed any over pitched or short bowling in his well constructed 40. Carl Bradford joined Fox when Davis found mid offs hands. This pair put on a basically match winning partnership of 72. They nudged the singles and blocked the good deliveries and saw off the quick bowling of C Rutterford. Fox reached his third Sunday Fifty of the summer by pummelling the bowling through the covers for another boundary. Haverhill had reached 154-3, needing 7 for victory when Bradford and Fox both fell quickly. Haverhill made a meal of the remaining 7 runs with Dingley, Sharpe and Fowler all getting out. It was left to Joe Woodley and Liam Botten to see Haverhill home by 2 wickets.

Find a business or organisation by using our A-Z listing below ...