Another Lemon Cup Final!

Date: Thursday 1 July 2010

For the third season in a row, the St Edmund's 1st XI will be making their way to Wye C C next Wednesday, July 7th, for an 11.00am start in defence of the Lemon Cup, captured last year from Beth's GS. Early holiday departures may leave the XI somewhat depleted, but the cup will not be surrendered easily, whatever side we manage to put out.

This news follows two days of intensive cricket, with a match against Simon Langton GS on Wednesday, preceding the semi-final Match against Hayes yesterday. The Langton game was a replica of last year's fixture, only in reverse. In a 35 over match, the Langton batted first and totalled 173 - 3, with Ben Kemp, with 2 - 18 in his seven overs, the only man capable of containing a strong batting line-up, including centurion Ewart (103). The St Ed's reply was going well at 100 - 1 in the eighteenth. Ben Pape led from the front with 59, but a flurry of wickets reduced the score to 119 - 6. Bungay and Higson dug in an put on 34 vital runs, before wickets fell again, and we were tantalisingly all out for 168, with three balls to go. We beat them last year by 4 runs; they beat us this year by 5!

The semi-final, after a long journey to Hayes CC - a beautiful ground - was decided by a great opening stand between Pape and Stone, and incisive bowling from Kemp, Pape, and Penn. Hayes inserted us, and the openers put on 94, before Pape went for 63 in the 18th over (of 30). Stone was fourth out for 57, and Max Bungay showed his true worth to the side with 22*, steering us to a competitive 163 - 7.

Hayes opener Steele went off like an express train, and raced to 40, but he had little support at the other end as Kemp, 3 - 21 in his six-over opening spell, Pape, (3 - 20), and Rob Penn, with his best performance of the season - so far! - rolled over the tail to finish with 4 - 22. A win by 62 runs, and a revitalised Antony Jones drove home, much happier than on his return from Manwood's earlier in the week!

Sadly, CCF Summer Camp takes him away from the final, as it does Johnny Clarke ; holiday arrangements also take out Bungay and Alex Higson, and possibly Harry Callaway. The best of luck to whatever side we can muster; should Tom Phillis, the prolific Under 14 from Form 8 be drafted in? In all probability, yes!