Good effort by Bungay

BUNGAY travelled to Stow A full of confidence, looking to build on the previous week's victories with several of their top order batsmen in exceptional form.

The winning draw may have seen them slip to third in the league but they are only three points behind the leaders and are level on points with the second place side.

It was an exceptional effort by the Bungay lads but they know they will need to continue the good work this week when they entertain Norwich B.

On a lovely sunny day, and with a very nice wicket to bat on, Stow A won the toss and elected to bowl, feeling they could chase down whatever was set.

Bungay openers M Watts and D Fuller started steadily knowing that once they got in they could exploit the excellent conditions.

Watts continued his rich vein of form, despatching ball after ball to the boundary whilst D Fuller watchfully punished any bad balls sent his way.

The score was on 80 before Bungay lost their first wicket, Watts again playing one shot too many, caught for a well-made 46. Soon after captain D Fuller was back in the pavilion after edging behind for 29.

With two new batsmen in Stow A tried to put pressure on and regain some control in the match. However, York and Elden the two new batsmen, had other ideas, both playing shots all round the ground.

York looked in exceptional form and almost took the cover fielder to the boundary with the ball on one occasion, the ball was struck with that much power. He brought up his 50, and with the score on 174-2 with 10 overs remaining Bungay were eyeing up the 250 mark. But a lapse in concentration led to York being run out for 60.

The new batsman, Davies, looked for big shots but was caught for just one. Elden saw this as his cue to take over as shot maker, but after crashing a six onto the offside he was bowled for 40.

Lewis at the other end was still keeping the scoreboard ticking over, rotating the strike well.

New batsmen Masters lasted one ball looking for a quick single, only to be run out by a fabulous direct hit by the bowler. C Fuller and Lewis took the score to 229 going into the last over but C Fuller was bowled for three.

Coming in, Chang crashed the last ball of the over for four leaving the score on 237-7 at the end of Bungay's innings. Lewis again not out for a respectable 18 and Chang not out for five.

Bungay knew that if they could keep it tight early on they would have a chance of taking wickets as the pressure built.

However, the opening partnership seemed to be going well and Bungay knew that it was going to take something special to break it.

That special moment arrived when D Fuller forced Denny into a rash cut shot and Lewis took a superb catch, diving forward. Two overs later D Fuller trapped Royale in front for only two.

With the score on 42-2, Bungay knew if they could get the wicket of opener Marshall they would have a good chance of getting the win.

Stow A resisted the pressure from Bungay but never looked like chasing down the target.

The returning York bowled a fiery spell and first picked up the wicket of Davey then the wicket of Ring in quick succession. However, Griffin and Marshall then survived a tough spell of bowling and with the score on 135-4 off 36 overs Bungay pushed for the remaining wickets.

Elden took the wicket of Griffin in the next over and then D Fuller took that of Cooke.

Within two overs Bungay had reduced Stow A to 150-6, and when Lewis took the wicket of Marshall in the 42nd over the score was 174-7. Bungay knew they could get these remaining three wickets and it was D Fuller who in the next over claimed Whiting. Lewis then dismissed Butt and the score was 176-9 with two overs to go.

First D Fuller tried to remove the last wicket but couldn't find the breakthrough, however his figures of 4-34 off 11 overs were exceptional on the batting friendly wicket.

With one over remaining Bungay pushed hard and surrounded the bat with catchers. Lewis, however, couldn't find the breakthrough and Bungay had to settle for a winning draw.