REGIONAL DIVISION 4 CENTRAL

SWAY III  178ao, LANGLEY MANOR  IV  117ao. Sway won by 61 runs

After a short delay for rain Sway batted first in a game reduced to 40 overs each, and found the going tough against accurate bowling and variable bounce from openers A.Rye and K.Tame. Only Dave Hurrell with 22 got in as Tame 4-41 and Rye 1-34 left Sway deep in trouble at 48 - 5 and when L.Ebbs 1-30 removed Chris Baughan the score was 53-6 with The Manor sensing an early finish. Steve Hannibal then blasted 7 boundaries in a quick fire 33 but fell bowled  round his legs by J.Smith 1-25 with the total on 87. However sensible batting from the experienced pairing of Matthew Brearley and Steve Drayton put Sway right back in the game as these two added 78 runs before T.Hart 3-6 had both men caught Drayton for 39 and Brearley for 38 and also had James Howard caught behind by P.Ferris leaving the final score at 178.

Manor opener D.Taylor was in aggressive mood right from the start hitting a succession of fours and one six, however Sway were picking up wickets at the other end as Howard 1-22 bowled S.Bevan for 1 and Brearley and Drayton reverted to their normal role as bowlers. Sway were now to hold no less than 8 catches in support of the bowlers with Tony Owen taking 3 including the important one of Taylor for 47 as Brearley 4-39 and Drayton 3-33 completed their all round contributions for the day. Keeper Steve Keen also had a stumping as Langley slipped to 74-8 before L.Ebbs (29) and M.Alpress (11) hit out to take the score past 100, but the return of David Steadman finished the game off as he had both these two out in five deliveries to end with 2-19 as Langley Manor fell 61 runs short of the target in the 22nd over.