The all Suffolk encounter between Copdock and Bury St Edmunds resulted in a 3 wicket win for the home team, visiting captain Josh Cantrell elected to bat and his side started well reaching 119 .4 when Will Routledge departed caught off the bowling of Tom Harper for 48 just before lunch. But the Bury side failed to build and finished on 175 all out with Cantrell making 24. 5 wickets each for Andy Hanby (5.42) and Tom Harper (5.45)
The game was well balanced after excellent early bowling by Dan Shanks who had figures of 14.4.49.4. Mihlali Mpongwana made an important score of 58 before being caught by Ben Whittaker off Cantrell departing with the score on 123.5. However despite losing two more wickets Copdock won moving them to 3rd place on 165 points just 5 behind Mildenhall (170) with Horsford leading on 197. Bury remain in 6th place on 135 points.
There were wins for all the other Bury teams with the 2nd team at home to Mistley winning the toss and inviting the visitors to bat a good decision as young Isaac Walshe ripped through the top order thanks to catches by James Sturgeon (2) and Max Whittaker to make the score 39.3. Further wickets from Joe Corder, Josh Owen and a run out had the total at 80.6 from where there was a total collapse Adam Kizis bowling James Garwood for 1 on 97 and Owen taking 3 wickets for one run as Mistley were bowled out for 99 their overseas player Rodney Mupfud being stranded on 41 not out.
Bury lost Sturgeon early and Zyan Imam (10) the score reached 84 when Whittaker was out on 84 and a run later Ned Stanton went for a big hit only to be caught for 32 off 39 deliveries that included 5 x 4. Bury lost 2 more wickets before Oscar Black scored a boundary to ensure a welcome win.
On the adjacent ground Bury’s 3rd team played Ipswich 2nds after the rain during the week it was a decidedly green surface and unsurprisingly the visitors won the toss and asked Bury to bat. Simon Aldous scored 22 with all the middle order making important contributions a welcome return to playing for Simon Cruse (13) Owen Grisby (19) Vivek Rajagopal (18) and Haydn Smith 24 not out in a total of 145. Sunil Yadav taking 5.55.
Conditions improved as Ipswich came to bat but the surface was always going to ensure a low scoring encounter, Ujjawal Verma came out of the traps with two wickets before a run was scored. Hamidullah Kharoti bowled with genuine pace taking the wickets of batters 3, 4 and 5 at one point being on a hat trick his 7 overs yielding 3.21. On 72.8 a win looked certain but Ipswich’s 9th wicket produced a partnership of 45 runs to take the score to 117.9 but Verma took the last 2 wickets leaving the visitors on 120 all out. A welcome win that takes the team up to 8th Verma achieving figures of 4.23 supported by Smith with 2.20. Vivek as always economical with 12.2.22.1.
A good win for Bury’s 4th team away to Bardwell 2nds. Winning the toss Bury took the decision to bowl and had the home team all out for 80. Olly Beaumont scoring 28 and Lucas Walshe 10. Michael Falkner taking 4.7. Oscar Grove 2.32 Jala Pathan 3.8 and Jack Lee 1.29.
Bury reached the target with 4 wickets down thanks in the main to Steven Graham with 49, Leo Park making 12.
On Sunday morning I had the pleasure of taking my grandson to play his first match for Bury Under 9’s a softball game away to Copdock, in games such as these winning is not the most important aspect of the game because as Copdock coach Martin Taylor explained every player needs to enjoy the game and have at least one moment of significance. Batting in pairs for 4 overs, my grandson dispatched his first ball over the bowler for 4 and thoroughly enjoyed the game especially taking a caught and bowled. There was some remarkable running between the wickets and one Bury boy has clearly based his bowling action on Jasprit Bumrah. We even had a lost ball in the hedge as Bury won well. Our thanks to Martin Lee for providing the 8 players with such an enjoyable experience and Copdock for being excellent hosts.
On Sunday the Victory Ground hosted a Ladies Festival of cricket. A report will appear later.
During the week Bury’s under 15 team played Mildenhall’s under 15 Mildenhall scoring 84.2 George Hope making 19. Bury’s 87.2 won the game with Lily Gray (15) Jack Lee (13) Oscar Grove (12) and Toby Liles (12)
Greene King Players of the Week Will Routledge, Daniel Shanks, Ned Stanton, Isaac Walshe, Josh Owen, Ujjawal Verma, Hamidullah Kharoti, Steven Graham and Michael Falkner.
Byron Burgers Player of the week Theo Cowling.

Next week Horsford visit the Victory Ground in the East Anglian Premier League. The 2nd team are away to Mildenhall 2nds, 3rd team are away to Copdock 3rd team and 4th team are at home to Worlington’s 3rd team.
On Sunday we host two Suffolk matches Under 16 boys and Under 14 girls against Hertfordshire.