Walsham nab a draw

Walsham-le-Willows (172-9) had to settle for a tie in their Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship Division Three encounter at home against Brockley (172-9) on Saturday.

After winning the toss, Walsham put their visitors in to bat and Ashley Forbes (2-29) soon dismissed Alex McCaffery caught behind for 9 after a couple of nice boundaries.

And he then bowled Rich Jones (9) after a lusty blow over mid-off and a fortunate boundary gloved between the slip fielders.

Skipper Liam Bryant (2-19) chipped in to bowl Stuart Fisher for 9 and Sam Hurst for 1.

Ben George and Mark Rothon took over and apart from Paul Webb (47), James Firth (32) and Anton Blackledge (27 not out) at number 10, nobody was able to hang around as George bowled his full allocation and took 3-68 and Rothon 1-44.

Walsham’s reply got off to a fast start as Ned Campbell struck a few boundaries before he was bowled by Henry Whiley for 16.

Barry Lynn (10) came out at number three and was out caught behind to become the first of Firth’s (5-36) victims for the day.

Bryant (30) and George (28) knocked the ball around and tried to build a partnership but the captain was soon out bowled and the latter was caught in the gully when trying to work into the leg side.

Alastair Waugh (13) played a couple of nice shots through the covers before he was out lbw and Forbes (25) batted smartly before a rush of blood saw him caught at mid-off.

Taylor Rothon (0) was unfortunate to pick out square leg with a hard hit pull shot which left Neil Baker as the last batsman with plenty to do.

When Mark Rothon (2) was out Connor Daly and Baker mixed good running with the odd boundary as they took Walsham from dead and buried to almost there.

Daly (13) was out caught on the boundary at the start of the last over having taken two from the first ball, meaning that Baker was on strike.

And with three runs required to win from the last ball of the innings, Baker managed two to secure a share of the spoils.

Tomorrow seventh-placed Walsham return to action with with a trip to second-from-bottom Easton (1pm).

l Sunday saw Walsham I lose a good game at home to Acton with Joe Scarce’s half century one of the highlights.

The 2nd XI lost at Elmswell in another good game, failing to chase down 280 by 15 runs.