Match Report - Men's Sat 1st XI v Felixstowe

It was a sunny day for Melton's first match of the season but there was also a chilly sea breeze - as always at Dellwood Avenue. Melton lost the toss and we put in to bat. Eddie and Chris opened and although Chris fell early Eddie scampered between the wickets as fresh as a daisy after his winter's rest. He notched up 86 before being given out lbw, sharing useful partnerships with Stuart D (11) and Tom Sid (28) to take it to 136 for three. But Tom Sid was out at the same score and Fazil and Ethan followed and it was 138 for six. Adie Smith led the recovery with 27 but it was Tom Shall who produced the crucial knock with an unbeaten 32, putting on 41 with Adie and another 17 in a ninth-wicket partnership with Natty to take the total past 200. Nick B did not get to bat but was to carry out some sterling work in the field after Melton had posted 210 for 8.

Fazil grabbed two quick wickets in the Felixstowe reply and then Tom Sid added three more. Chris took two catches behind the wicket and was leaping all over the place as the fast bowlers fired balls at him. Tom Shallish returned after his miserly first spell and took a deserved wicket and Nat picked up two with catches by Ethan and Tom Sid - a tremendous take near the boundary. Felixstowe batted through the 45 overs to finish on 185 for 8.

It was a very good effort to start the season with a win.

NM

Statto corner: It was only the second time in six seasons that we won our opening league game. We topped 200 for the ninth time in three seasons - and we have only lost one of those games. It was Eddie's second-best score for Melton - his best was 162 against Sudbury, which is our highest competitive score. We have won four in a row and six out of the last eight at Dellwood Avenue - but at home we have lost five out of seven.