Matthew Taylor starts big week in fine fashion

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Rising leg-spin star Matthew Taylor bagged five wickets in his first EAPL outing of the summer to help Swardeston maintain their lead at the top of the table.

Taylor, 15, who is this week representing the London & East region team at the Bunbury Cricket Festival in Derbyshire, took five for 41 from 18 overs as visitors Sudbury were bowled out for 131.

Unbeaten half-centuries from Stephen Gray and Michael Parlane then completed an eight-wicket win for Swardeston, as they extended their lead to 28 points.

Sudbury chose to bat first and after openers Peter Siegert and Jay Phillips put on 39, Swardeston skipper Mark Thomas struck with his second ball to have Phillips caught behind.

Taylor then followed his captain’s lead by bowling Siegert, before the pair claimed another wicket apiece to leave Sudbury on 64 for four.

George Walker replaced Thomas and claimed a wicket with his first ball, and two more Taylor wickets – both to catches by Peter Lambert – reduced the visitors to 112 for seven at lunch.

Walker claimed two wickets in two balls after the break and Taylor wrapped up the innings in the 48th over by ending last man Ben Hyett’s dogged resistance.

Swardeston lost both openers, Lambert and Lewis Denmark, cheaply, and at 12 for two looked set to struggle with their small target.

But Gray – Swardeston’s leading runscorer in the league this summer – was joined by Parlane, who is returning to form after a difficult start to the year, in an unbroken stand of 124.

Gray finished on 52no from 74 balls, while Parlane completed the win with a straight six to close on 71no from 68 deliveries.

The 2nd XI held on to register a losing draw away at Bradfield. Bradfield set 168-6 from their allocated 50 overs, with Sam Thelwell picking up 3 wickets.

In reply, Swardeston slipped to 79-7 before Steven Cadge and Tony Bailey battled out the remaining overs to avoid defeat.

The 3rd XI and 4th XI were not in action.

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