Promotion hopes all but over now as Bungay are well beaten at Old Buckenham
Great Witchingham bowler Andy Hanby heads back to his mark during Saturday's EAPL match at Swardeston. Picture: Nick Butcher - Credit: Nick Butcher
Bungay’s Norfolk Alliance Division Three promotion hopes were all but ended as they suffered a heavy defeat.
They picked up just four points after being dismissed for 159 all out in 38.2 overs when chasing a Old Buckenham A’s 224-2.
The reverse left them 35 points behind second placed Great Melton with just two games left to play.
Batting first on a green wicket the Bucks openers were able to take advantage of a lack of penetration in the Bungay bowling as they maintained a run rate of between four and five per over for the entire innings.
It wasn’t until the 40th over that Callum Clark (7 overs 2-44) removed skipper Mark Dunnett for 82 and then bowled Peter Free for 21 off the penultimate ball of the innings.
You may also want to watch:
This left James Alexander unbeaten on 91 in a final total of 224-2.
Nick Lo was again the most economical of the Bungay attack with only 21 coming from his nine overs. The home team had not aided their cause in sending down 23 wides. Bungay however were fairly confident of chasing the total down.
Most Read
- 1 Roundabout memorial bid for the 'Ole Chicken Man of Bungay'
- 2 'A momentous occasion': Pharmacies to start Covid vaccinations in Suffolk
- 3 Restaurant fined for refusing to close in third lockdown
- 4 How I became Ralph Fiennes' assistant on Netflix's The Dig
- 5 Nine Norfolk flood alerts ahead of Storm Christoph
- 6 Police investigate Southwold sign swearing at visitors to stay away
- 7 'Be vigilant' plea after rise in vehicle thefts
- 8 'Anti-social rider' has quadbike seized in the snow
- 9 Man recovering after suffering serious leg injury in crash
- 10 Paramedics respond after woman suffers medical emergency
Unfortunately for the Black Dogs it was a day when several batsmen got good starts but failed to progress.
After the in-form Will Lewis nicked one behind for 10, Lo (21), Charlie Mattocks (17), Tom York (30), Martyn Ramm (22) and Matthew Williams (20) were all set, but were forced to hit out as the required rate rose to around eight an over.
As the last of the wickets fell, Ed Masters was unbeaten with 16 as Bungay fell well short on 159 all out with 6.4 overs remaining.
Old Buckenham were fully deserving of their win, and Bungay would need to win their last two matches, and Great Melton lose twice, to achieve promotion.
Bungay play their final away match at fourth-placed Acle A this Saturday (12.30pm).
Ashby batsmen were in the runs against Aylsham Legionaires on Sunday, scoring 225 for five — Aaron Beamont scored 74, Issey 50, James Campbell-Johnson 35 and Beasthall 23.
In reply, the visitors reached 194 all out. Wickets were take by Aaron Beaumont (3), Joe Jackman and Paul Thurbon (2 each) with Littlechild, Johnson, and Reeve taking one each.
This Sunday Ashby play a Norwich XI at home (2pm).