The East Anglian Premier Cricket league moved to the first of 11 red ball matches. In this format a minimum of 120 overs can be bowled. To encourage attacking cricket the team batting first receives double batting points, these points are awarded at 150, 175, 200, 225 and 250. Based upon 60 overs played. The fielding team in each case is awarded a point for every two wickets taken.
Bury St Edmunds won the toss elected to bat against league newcomers Ramsey. Many expected a high scoring match but the dry surface made batting difficult as Bury struggled in the first hour which is often the case at the Victory Ground. The bowling attack of Ramsey was excellent with sustained pace and accuracy. After 11 overs Bury were perilously placed on 11.3. It took an excellent innings from home captain Josh Cantrell to change the momentum, he was 4th out for 52 off 48 deliveries with the score on 78 making 76% of the runs in a partnership with Harry Gallian, Gallian was out for 40 on 112 having anchored the innings. But at lunch Bury’s innings was back in the balance at 120.6. After the break Bury’s middle order applied themselves as the ball softened and the heat was raised with Freddie Heldreich batting well only to be out to a very good catch by Ben Saunders off his brother Mark for 49. At 163.7 it needed good application from Tom Rash and Ben Whittaker both players going on to join Heldreich on 49. Whittaker being not out. Bury missed out on a 4th batting point as the score was 223.7 at the end of the 60th over but the final 4 overs produced 29 runs to provide a solid platform. Mark Saunders taking 4.71.
The first Ramsey wicket in reply came on 23 as Michael Cafferkey was out caught Cantrell off Dan Shanks on the same score Tom Rash had Ben Saunders caught by Sean Park . Rash then bowled Wayne Bradley for 21 to make the score 85.3. The partnership that followed gave the visitors hope but the loss of two wickets on 121 turned the game back toward the home team, Archie Jones taking a very good running catch to dismiss Henry Wilson for 50 as he looked like making a much bigger score. It was soon 145.8. Shanks taking two wickets, Heldreich two and Cantrell with an excellent caught and bowled. Winning games in this format is never easy as low order batsman can battle, this was the case with Mark Saunders remaining firm as the match entered its 52 over, just 12 deliveries remained when Ben Harris bowled him for 43 after 73 minutes at the crease. Shanks finished with 3.43 Rash 2.33, Heldreich 2.55 and Cantrell 2.4 off 6 overs. Bury securing 28 points moving them to 3rd place with 118 just a point ahead of Copdock and Swardeston with Horsford on top with 140 and Mildenhall on 129.

Bury’s 2nd team travelled to Halstead a team who have won the Two Counties League for the last three seasons. It is clear that this league has several strong outfits supplement by high standard playing coaches, this match was one Bury were never likely to win and so it proved. Bury batted first with James Sturgeon making 25, Josh Owen 14 it was thanks to a last wicket partnership that the final total of 117 was achieved with Joe Corder making 30 and Adam Kizis 20 not out, home bowler Ed Clark taking 7 wickets.
Oliver Riddick took the only wicket of Callum O’Donnell for 57 caught by Owen as the home side won by 9 wickets. It will be against the lower placed sides that Bury need to gain points as the gap between Division One and Two is significant.

Bury’s 3rd team were away to Woolpit’s 3rd team batting first Bury Scored 168 Ammad Hassan Fida top scoring with 37, Oscan Black making 34 Vivek Rajagopal 19 and Arlo Bhavsar 18.
Andrew Bendall taking 4.22. Woolpit won the game thanks to a partnership between Richard Baker (52 not out) and George Jackson (50 not out) a wicket each for Vivek and Haydn Smith.
Bury’s 4th team were up against a strong St Margarets 2nd team batting first Bury made 85 with Ross Daines scoring 17, Viq Ahmed 14, Jack Lee and Nitin Modi 12 each. Dan Brader taking 4.15 for the visitors. Josha Kovacic-Graham taking the only wicket, Bury’s team are in the main junior players playing at senior level very early in the careers, it is all about gaining experience and learning to adapt to a higher level. By all accounts youngsters Oscar Grove and Jack Lee bowled well.
Earlier in the week Bury’s Under 13 team won against Woolpit by scoring 140.3 with Grove taking 1.4 and scoring 27 runs being supported by Isaac Davie with 26.
Bury also played Nowton Under 13’s losing by just 11 runs Grove scoring 30 and Lilly Gray taking 3.7 and Antonis Weston 3.8.
Greene King Players of the Week Josh Cantrell, Tom Rash, Ben Whittaker, Dan Shanks, Ammad Hassan-Fida and Oscar Grove.
Byron Burgers Player of the week who receives a £25 voucher Oscar Grove.
Next Week Bury travel to Swardeston in the EAPL, the 2nd team are at home to Clacton, the 3rd team at home to East Bergholt, and 4th team away to Tudenham’s 2nd team.
On Sunday Bury are at home to Hadleigh.