CRICKET; THE sun came out, the batsmen made hay – and even hard-pressed bowlers were forced to admit it was a great game at Woodbridge School.

THE sun came out, the batsmen made hay – and even hard-pressed bowlers were forced to admit it was a great game at Woodbridge School.

The Medite Suffolk Alliance Section A contest between Woodbridge 2nds and Sudbourne Hall saw 565 runs scored in the afternoon, with visitors Sudbourne taking victory by four wickets.

Asad Mir scored 100, Danny Flatt 35 and Charles Morris 20 before Andy Oswald weighed in with a late 46 not out as Woodbridge put an imposing 282 for six on the board. Undaunted, Sudbourne replied with a century of their own from D Morgan, plus 62 from Peter Clift, 36 from Rob Jenkin and 34 from Richard Bramley to reach their target for the loss of six wickets.

There were nearly as many runs at Kesgrave as the home team scored 262 for one (Andrew Gallant 122 not out, James Holland 88 not out, Mark Johnson 36) and Easton 2nds got to within 16 runs before their overs ran out. This was more of a team effort, with Richard Fernley (46), his son Rob (43 not out), Tom Huggins (39), Dave McMillan (35) and G Simpson (30) all contributing.

The highest total of the weekend came on Saturday when Steve King batted through the Yoxford II innings of 301 for three to record a tremendous unbeaten 152. N Dean (71) and Chris Mears (50 not out) also played their part, while in the Stradbroke II reply there was a 50 for Tom Smith and 48 for Ken Halliwell.

There was one more Alliance century as Steve Smith scored 115 in Holbrook's 148-run thrashing of Brantham in Section B.

Back to Section A, and Wortham dismissed Nacton for 115 (Dave Hunt 47, Malcolm Spillings five for 42, Dan Philpot four for 26) with Steve Bartram's 70 setting up a seven-wicket win for the leaders.

Defending champions Thomas Mills had to work hard to beat Melton St Audry's by 13 runs. Alan Jeffrey (62) and A Worne (37) gave Mills a good start but then some good catches and Conrad Wright (four for 32) saw them slip to 149 all out. St Audry's made a poor start by Darren Wash (26), Peter Harlow (24) and Richard Edwards (21) kept them in the race until the final wicket fell on 137.

There was a significant result in Section B as leaders Coddenham & Grundisburgh lost their unbeaten record at home to Yoxford. The visitors only managed 103 (Chris Mears 34) but that proved to be enough as Julian Emeny grabbed five for 15 to send Coddenham packing for 98.

Ivan Leggett scored an unbeaten 90 as Mallards reached their target of 186 for three at home to Worlingworth II, while Southwold lost by eight wickets at home to Caribbeans as C Snowling scored an unbeaten 53.

The top four teams in Section C won over the weekend. Leaders Eye II were given a walk-over by Nomads, while second-placed Melton St Audry's II beat Waldringfield. Father and son Malcolm and Richard Grubb shared a half-century fifth-wicket stand as Melton posted 126 for seven, and then Colin Myles and Mark Younghusband both took three wickets as the home side were dismissed for 51.

British Telecom beat Halesworth by 105 runs while James Quinton took five for 12 as Felixstowe Corinthians II were bowled out for 65 by Needham Market, who won by six wickets.

John Todd (70) and R Fernley (55) helped Easton III to 237 for eight and a 65-run win over Pettistree in Section D and in Section E Dave Edwards (55) and Richard Bradley (47) helped Kesgrave to an 80-run win over Rosary Cavaliers.