Report: Dave Reeder
Photios: Jo Smallwood
Swardeston held their nerve to claim a dramatic one-wicket victory over Downham Stow in the Anglian Vehicle Linings East Anglian Premier League.
Having won the toss and elected to field, Swardeston made an excellent start with the new ball. Lewis Reeder struck twice inside the opening nine overs, removing Freddie Fairey for a 15-ball duck and Finlay Wilcox for six to leave Downham Stow in early trouble at 13 for two.
Josh Bowers and Ben Wilcox began the recovery, with Bowers making 26 from 59 balls before Ben France bowled him with the score on 60.
Wilcox then anchored the middle of the innings, compiling 53 from 109 balls with five fours and a six, before France struck again to end a patient and important contribution.
The main resistance came from Arthur Wilcox, who top-scored with 79 from 104 deliveries. His innings, featuring eight fours and two sixes, gave Downham Stow the platform they needed, while Dan Cooke added a brisk 19 from 23 balls.
However, Swardeston continued to take wickets at useful intervals and prevented the innings from getting away from them. Saranga Rajaguru played a key role through the later stages, finishing with three for 43 from 18 overs.
France also claimed three wickets, returning three for 64 from a long 18-over spell, while Reeder’s early burst brought him two for 42. Tom Bailey kept things extremely tight with nine overs for just 18 runs, and Richard Sims added one for 41.
Downham Stow were eventually dismissed for 222 from 64 overs.
In reply, Ben Chapman gave the chase early substance with 40 from 71 balls, while Tim Ward’s 22 from 26 kept the scoreboard moving after Richard Sims had fallen for 13.
The decisive innings came from Alfie Cooper, who struck 65 from 70 deliveries, including 11 fours, to put Swardeston in sight of their target.
Downham Stow refused to fade, however, with Brett Stolworthy and Dan Cooke each claiming three wickets to drag the contest back into the balance.
Cooke removed Cooper, Peter Lambert, and Ben France in quick succession, while Stolworthy dismissed Rajaguru and later Tom Bailey as Swardeston lost 5 wickets for just 20 runs to leave the visitors nine down with 19 still needed.
Matthew Taylor and Lewis Reeder then produced the calm finish Swardeston needed. Taylor ended unbeaten on 12 from 16 balls, while Reeder’s unbeaten 10 not out from 13 deliveries, including two fours, carried Swardeston across the line with 23 balls remaining.
Scorecard: https://swardeston.play-cricket.com/website/results/7205548
