Revenge is sweet, and on Saturday Sudbury Seconds enjoyed the taste. Having lost by just two runs at Dunmow earlier in the season, Sudbury really wanted to exact revenge.
Winning the toss on a damp, drying pitch for this Two Counties division four game was going to be vital. Fortunately Dunmow called wrong and were put in to bat.
Alan Macdiarmid carried on where he left off against Hockley in mid-week and had bats
men struggling with his in duckers. Lockwood was stiff from a long lay-off and had difficulty with his length.
But Chris Powell, making a rare appearance, came on and immediately had Dunmow in trouble, and got the breakthrough wicket. That unlocked the flood gates and, from 55 for one, Dunmow rolled over and were dismissed for 100 more.
Robins picked up six for 28 off 12 tight overs.
Significantly Dunmow were bowled out in 39 overs, giving Sudbury six extra overs to bat. In the end it proved crucial as Sudbury won in the 47th over.
Sudbury's reply started slowly, with Holt having difficulty timing on the slow pitch with the soft ball. Harry Wright showed the way with some firm shots into gaps.
Oakes replaced him and soon found his form with some exquisite shots. After tea Holt ran himself out, but Cook and Oakes kept it going until a mini-collapse left Sudbury reeling on 116-8 with Lockwood and Macdiarmid at the crease and Dunmow tails up.
But Sudbury have strength in depth, and Lockwood batted superbly for an unbeaten 42. Macdiarmid supported him with a solid 10 in what was considered a man-of-the-match role.
Dunmow grew quieter as the target was approached. Macdiarmid was dropped, a simple chance, at second mid-off, and Lockwood smashed a long hop to the boundary to win.
The full article contains 311 words and appears in Suffolk Free Press newspaper.
