Recap

Bures C.C. v Polstead C.C. (Home)

August 6th 2022

On yet another glorious day, we welcomed Polstead. Thanks to the hard work of the ground-staff, the wicket was holding up pretty well despite the absence of any rain for what felt like months, the outfield incredibly quick as you would expect. So it was a surprise when Bures lost the toss (again) and they were put in to bat, nevertheless James E & Dave W padded up and strode out to the middle.

Some excellent batting followed for a number of overs, with both openers scoring freely and boundaries aplenty, Dave eventually being trapped in front by an excellent swinging delivery for a well played 28 and Will Melrose following very quickly after for an unfortunate duck. James then fell after scoring his 50, for 51 where 48 of them were 4’s! That bought the Nunn brothers to the crease (Josh & Ned) for their first matches of the season. With 3 wickets falling relatively quickly, the Polstead bowlers tails were up and bowling well, Ned set about counter attacking and hit a number of attractive shots ably assisted by his brother before they both fell for 9 (Josh) & 32 (Ned). Once looking like Bures were going to post a high score, now it was looking like a task to get past 200, but some useful cameos from Robbie Pownall (16), captain for the day Luke (34*) and the Chairman (12*) Bures eventually posted a competitive total of 215.

An excellent tea provided by Mark & Katherine followed, where everyone had more than enough delicious sandwiches and cakes and we trudged out a bit full to try and defend our score.

Bures made a good start, with Giles (Godbold) taking a wicket in the 5th over, and wickets continuing to fall with the bowlers sharing the wickets and taking them in quick succession and the home side were firmly on top restricting Polstead to 111-9 and over 100 from the total, Bures were expectant of a convincing victory, but S. Collins & T. Hardwicke (10th & 11th bat respectively) had other ideas and set about taking the game back to Bures, with some excellent strokes being played all around the park and boundaries being scored at relative ease, the momentum of the game was beginning to turn.

A nervous glance to the scoreboard and the realisation that this pair had put on over 70 and were working their way closer to the target with each ball meant that the experience of the Chairman & James E were bought back on and it took James 11 balls to end the partnership drawing a loose shot and caught at point by the Chairman. James finishing with excellent figures of 5.5 – 2 wicket maidens – 17 -4. The young batting pair were congratulated on an exciting and entertaining partnership (Collins 45, Hardwick 38*), and the Bures players walked off exhausted and relieved!

Off we went to the Bells for some much needed refreshments and debrief.