Report: Dave Reeder
Photos: Dale Clarke
Swardeston kicked off their Anglian Vehicle Linings East Anglian Premier League campaign with a 144-run win at home to Witham CC.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bowl and had the home side in all sorts of trouble early on, taking two wickets in the first over.
Captain Alfie Cooper joined Ben Chapman before he was caught for 22. Chapman went on to make a vital 45 (8 fours) as wickets continued to fall at the other end in the tough early conditions.
After 28 overs, Swardeston were struggling on 116 for 7. An eighth wicket partnership of 108 rescued the innings, Matthew Taylor being the key man with an excellent 80 not out (6 fours, 1 six), ably assisted by Adam Todd’s 44 (3 fours).
The pair batted cautiously initially, particularly against the visitors’ spin attack led by the impressive Greg Stephens (3 for 13).
In the last five overs, however, the home side smashed 53 runs as Swardeston posted 243 for 8, a total that looked unlikely throughout most of the innings.
In reply, the Witham innings never really got going as a good bowling and fielding display from the hosts kept them in check.
Alfie Cooper had a hand in the first three wickets, taking the catches, two from Lewis Reeder and a particularly sharp catch from Adam Todd.
Lewis Reeder went on to take a further wicket to finish with impressive figures of 3 for 12 from his 6 overs.
When Ben France dismissed top scorer Jamal Richards (30), he then continued to run through the lower order and finished with outstanding figures of 5 for 9 and wrapped up the victory as Witham were bowled out for 99.
Scorecard: https://swardeston.play-cricket.com/website/results/7205640
YouTube livestream recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5s8_QhvAlc&t=8530s
