Swannell innings inspires a vital draw

Paul Swannell steers Godmanchester to win

Godmanchester's former captain Paul Swannell put a disappointing season behind him to set a new club record for an eighth wicket stand and rescue their his from defeat to Norwich.

The unbroken eighth wicket parternship of 98 between Swannell and David McCallum rescued their side from what looked like a certain home defeat when they were 46 for 6 chasing 221 posted by the visitors.

Swannell recorded his best ever EAPL score finishing just eight short of what would have been a thoroughly deserved century in what had been previously a disappointing season with the bat.

McCallum played the perfect supporting role after both had claimed two wickets in the innings.

The match began 75 minutes late due to rain but the two sides made light of this setback to serve up a match rich in entertainment and varying fortunes.

Batting first found it difficult to settle as the Goddy opening bowlers claimed five wickets between them in just 17 overs.

Only opener Ben Patston looked to be in control but when he was out to a stunning gulley catch by Ollie Huggins, the visitors were 62 for 5 and Godmanchester were firmly in control.

Then a patient stand of 68 in fourteen overs between Charlie Ponder (43) and Felix Flower redressed the balance and after Ponder had become Jayasundera's first victim Jason Blake (21) carried on the momentum adding a further 47 with Flower for the seventh wicket.

Flower went on to record an excellent 66 before McCallum trapped him L.B.W. but with 22 added by the last pair closed on 220 all out with just seven balls of their maximum allocation unused.

Bevis Moynan had the best bowling return with 3-35 and Jayasundera also picked up three wickets at a cost of 68 runs.

In the 34 minutes before tea the Godmanchester reply was left in tatters by the opening bowlers. Four Godmanchester players were back in the pavilion with just 19 runs on the board and two more fell in the over before tea leaving them 46 for 5 and staring defeat in the face.

Stuart Houghton then lost Jayasundera for a first ball duck and this brought in Swannell. The two added 49 for the seventh wicket but then Houghton (33) departed leg before and at 95 for seven a victory for the home side looked an impossible dream.

However with some responsible and concentrated batting, Swannell and McCallum edged their side not only to safety but also to within 28 runs of an unlikely victory in the face of some accurate bowling.

Paul Wiseman completed his full quota of 18 overs finishing with 2 for 45 whilst his partner Aaron Watson twice took two wickets in an over to finish with 4-60.

Skipper Bevis Moynan padded up for well over an hour as next man in acknowledged a fine performance by his side singling out the Swannell innings as 'massive and well deserved'.