CRICKET: Suffolk Under-14s played their annual game against Essex at Culford School.The match against Essex is always a difficult one for the Suffolk boys, who are often overawed by these strong opponents and, this year, Essex did them the honour of putting out four South of England players in a particularly competent show.

CRICKET

Suffolk Under-14s played their annual game against Essex at Culford School.

The match against Essex is always a difficult one for the Suffolk boys, who are often overawed by these strong opponents and, this year, Essex did them the honour of putting out four South of England players in a particularly competent show.

Essex won the toss and decided to bat in cloudy conditions on a good pitch.

Their innings started with three shocks when their first three batsmen – all South of England players – were whittled out, helped in part by a brilliant catch in the gully by Michael Lumley (Thurston CUS), for only eight runs by Joe Heather (St Benedict's US), who finished with three for 45 off nine overs.

After this unexpected start, their later players settled down and the innings finished on 318 for five declared after only 44 of their allotted 52 overs. James Gosden (RHS) was the only other bowler to take a wicket – one for 43 with his slow leg-breaks.

Suffolk's innings started slowly against lively bowling and wickets fell regularly until William Robinson (Thomas Mills HS) took charge with an outstanding best-of-season score of 92.

This was followed by two useful stands of 30 for the ninth wicket by Mike Lumley – 23 not out – and James Gosden, making a "hard swinging" 12 runs in an unbroken stand of 41 for the 10th wicket with Joe Heather, who was batting with a runner but ended not out on 23.

This earned Suffolk a notable draw against first-rate opponents by battling for 58 overs to reach a final total of 243 runs for nine.