HALES were at Bradfield in the Norfolk Alliance Division One match which they batted out for a losing draw. The Hales team were again short of a couple of regulars due to injury.

HALES were at Bradfield in the Norfolk Alliance Division One match which they batted out for a losing draw. The Hales team were again short of a couple of regulars due to injury.

From this display, and earlier ones, several of the Hales players are showing that with no regular net practice they cannot take for granted the successes they have achieved for several seasons.

Bradfield batted first in a reduced 39-overs game and found it very difficult to push the score along on what was, for Hales, the most unpredictable batting track they have played on this season.

Hales,two bowlers short, allowed Bradfield to score much faster in the second half of their innings. they moved the score from 70-2 after 19 overs to 161-7 at close, C Wiseman 38.

Hales also found runs difficult to get, but after the early loss of C Andersen for nought, P Squire joined C Hlengani and they steadied the ship, putting on 60 before Hengani was caught for 26.

P Squire quickly followed, out caught with the top score of the day, 32.

The run rate was still achievable at that stage but the middle order went into panic mood, throwing their wickets away needlessly when a more sensible approach would probably have seen them over the winning line.

Hales lost their eighth wicket in the 37th over which brought A Beaumont, aged 16, in to join the Hales captain S Rowe.

Bradfield had brought back their fast bowlers to clean up the tail, but Beaumont got behind the line of the ball as instructed and was instrumental in Hales batting out for the losing draw and eight points.

The Hales Musker McIntyre man of the match award goes to Chris Hlengani.

Bradfield: N Whitehouse b C Hlengani 18, D Register b C Hlengani 35, C Wiseman b R Andersen 38, E Bothwright c M.Lovick b S Rowe 9, S Bidewell c M Ramsdale b S Rowe 6, D Yarham not out 21, A Robinson c C Hlengani b M Lovick 14, P Abbs c C HLengani b M Lovick 5, A Kimber not out 6. Bowling: R Andersen 10-1-48-1, M Lovick 9-1-42-2, C Hlengani 10-2-29-2, S Rowe 10-0-39-2.

Hales: C Hlengani b Yarham 26, C Andersen b Robinson 0, P Squire b Abbs 32, D Andersen b Abbs 10, M Ramsdale b Abbs 8, R Andersen b Abbs 11, A Jones b Whitehouse, J Vale b Whitehouse 5, S Rowe not out 9, A Beaumont not out 1.

Bowling: A Robinson 10-0-28-1, T Whitehouse 10-1-31-2, P Abbs 9-0-45-4, G Yarham 10-1-22-1.