Perseverance pays of with points despite losing draw.

On a rain ravaged day that saw the covers at Melton Park wheeled on and off with tedious regularity, Great Melton battled hard against a competitive Swardeston side in a game reduced to 60 overs because of poor weather.

Swardeston batted first and posted 174 for 5.  Ben Shearing led the way with an aggressive 45 that featured 2 sixes and 4 fours and there were useful knocks from Ben Hogg (29 not out), Rob Ebbage (24) and Will Kennard (23 not out).  Nick Gristwood and Ollie Harris were the pick of Melton's bowlers taking 2 for 42 and 2 for 31 respectively.

Melton's reply was typically solid as the now familiar partnership of Alex Cooper and Richard Wood put on 95 for the first wicket in 19 overs before Cooper (45) was dismissed by name sake Kevin Cooper, and Wood (43) followed caught and bowled by veteran Horrex.  Martyn Cook (10) promoted up the order to number 3 in search of quick runs briefly threatened with 2 well struck boundaries but Melton lost wickets all to frequently and were unable to build a partnership against some good disciplined bowling by the Swardeston team.  14 year old Chris Greenslade (12) looked assured and positive but he like those before him perished in pursuit of quick runs, so in the end Melton had to be content with reaching 90%, which they achieved in the last over of the innings, and to bat out for the draw.

Swardeston “B” (14 points)

J Martin b Harris 18, M Hogg b Gristwood 12, R Ebbage b Sibert 24, K Cooper b Harris 2, B Shearing ct Wood b Gristwood 45, B Hogg not out 29, W Kennard not out 23.  Extras 21. Total 174 for 5 (N Gristwood 8-1-41-2, M Scott 3-0-16-0, O Harris 8-2-31-2, M Sibert 7-0-52-1, J Rice 4-0-29-0)

Great Melton (11 points)

A Cooper ct Ebbage b Cooper 45,  R Wood, ct & b Horrex 43, M Cook ct Martin b Cooper 10, M Bunn ct M Hogg b Cooper 12, C Greenslade ct Shearing b Horrex 12, M Sibert b Horrex 3, J Rice not out 5, M Scott not out 11. Extras 20. Total 161 for 7. (D Drepaulsingh 4-1-21-0, S Eadala 6-0-21-0, B Shearing 6-1-35-0, D Horrex 8-0-46-3, K Cooper 6-0-30-3)