Little Bardfield Village CC vs. Copdock & Old Ipswichian

In an exciting cricket clash at Fortress Bardfield, LBVCC welcomed the visiting Copdock & Old Ipswichian 2nd XI. The Oxslips won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to set a challenging target for the visitors.

The batting kicked off with a splendid performance by Matt Graham, who wielded his bat like a weapon of mass destruction notching a fantastic 86 runs before finally losing his wicket. His aggressive strokeplay set the tone for the rest of the innings. Our other opener Rory Hitchcock sadly fell just short of his 50 (but would later make his mark with the ball). Skipper Richard Linney showcased his batting prowess, reaching a well-deserved half-century and provided a calm head in the middle to settle any nerves.

However, the real fireworks came from Daryl Hymas, who unleashed a barnstorming innings, smashing boundaries for fun despite the intimidation tactics employed by the Copdock fielders. His blistering knock of 84 runs propelled Little Bardfield to a commanding total (Joe Owen would argue his movement between the wickets could be improved).

With a formidable score of 314 runs for the loss of only 4 wickets in their allotted 45 overs, Little Bardfield left the visitors with an uphill battle. The players and spectators took a break to enjoy a delightful spread of cakes (courtesy of Rory Hitchcock's mum) before the Little Bardfield side returned to the field, energised and ready to defend their total.

The bowling innings belonged to Rory Hitchcock, who had an exceptional day with the ball. He claimed a magnificent 5-wicket haul (his second of the season), much to the delight of the passionate Oxslip fans in attendance AKA his Mother and Father.

Newcomer/returning LBVCC alumni Tom Graham lent his support with a crucial wicket, adding to the Copdock woes. Joe Owen, displaying great fielding skills, contributed not only with a wicket but also pulled off a couple of tricky catches. Callum Hymas also turned up and took a well deserved wicket after a strong spell with the ball. Behind the stumps, Will Slemmings showed off his cat like agility as a wicket-keeper, taking a two catches after giving Joe a well-deserved rest for the day.

In the end, the Copdock batting lineup crumbled under the relentless pressure exerted by Little Bardfield's bowlers. They were eventually dismissed for 144 runs in just 27.1 overs, losing by 170 runs. Despite being a man short with only 10 players, Copdock put up a valiant fight.

Ultimately Little Bardfield's dominance with both bat and ball ensured a convincing win over Copdock and Old Ipswichians at Fortress Bardfield.