3/3 as all 3 teams pick up wins!

The first full week of SBCC’s 2020 season brought three fantastic wins and almost three entrants onto their Wall of Fame, and a huge bar bill for the Chairman as the revised ‘Chairman’s Round’ kicked in.

The 1st XI enjoyed their first trip to Copdock in the EAPL, where skipper Dan Heath and his team enjoyed a superb win, a fantastic ground and pitch and some very welcoming and hospitable hosts. The hosts’ generous welcome even extended to SBCC losing the toss but being invited to bat, a decision no doubt influenced by SBCC’s stuttering form with the bat this term.

In the absence of his 2019 regular opening partner Matthew Hague, Waqas Hussain walked out to bat with his fourth new partner of the year. This time lower order specialist James Vanderpeer was asked to start. The skipper’s faith was rewarded as Vandepeer (25) added 62 for the first wicket. The normally prolific Hussain had been eerily quiet so far this season and was indebted to a couple of early drops before he then showed his class as he and Michael Cafferkey (66) added 151 for the second wicket. Cafferkey scoring his runs off just 71 balls departing just after his partner had gone to three figures. Waqas’s first ton of the year adding to his three of 2019. SBCC stumbled as 217 for 1 became 226 for 4, with Skipper Heath shuffling the pack in the search of quick runs. Ben Clilverd with 25 off 15 balls and Callum Guest 30 from just 17 deliveries delivered as SBCC posted a challenging 298 for 7. Freddie Heidrich with 2-44 and Michael Wareing 2-72 were the most successful of the bowlers for Copdock.

Copdock and Old Ipswichians started their reply at a blistering pace with former Cambridge player Ben Claydon leading the charge. Indeed, up until the first drinks break the home side were ahead of the rate. Claydon classy knock showing why he is attracting interest from first class county sides continued to threaten the visitors, despite them picking up regular wickets at the other end. It wasn’t until Claydon departed for 122 (from 111) at 207 for 6 that SBCC could start to breathe more easily. Some excellent late order hitting from Matt Hunn (39 from 22) took the home side past 250. SBCC winning by 39 runs as spins twins Guest and George Darlow applied the brakes. Guest picking up 5-40, as the spinners received good support from Mark Smith (2-70), Tim Moses (1-34) and a tight spell from Vandepeer.

This win means SBCC with two from two sit joint top with Sudbury in the EAPL Southern Division.


The 2nds lined up against Horseheath in Section D of the CCA’s new mini leagues. They won the toss, decided to bat, and in common with the 1sts made a change at the top of the order. Chris Kindred after starring in SBCC’s midweek win over the same opposition repaid Skipper Nick Griggs’s faith by smashing SBCC’s second ton of the day. His 110 coming off just 86 balls as he hit nine fours and six maximums. He shared 50+ partnerships with Kane Munday (30) and Scott Stanford (48). Oli Borley (25) adding useful late runs as SBCC chased maximum batting bonus points before falling just short of the required 300 mark as the innings closed on 278. Matt Talaga 5-56 picking up some late wickets supported by Chris Curtis (2-64) and Martin Giles (2-44). Skipper Gary Ellis with 0-29 from eight tidy overs avoided the carnage.

Horseheath lost the dangerous Dan Goldsmith at 32 when he was just looking like he was finding his timing and range and the innings then was undone by the regular loss of wickets. The innings finally petering out at 133 with Jake Raven (3-24) and youngster Mervyn Shaji (2-16) being the most successful bowlers. Sawston picking up 39 points out of a possible 40, under the CCA’s new funky points system.

SBCC’s 3rd string travelled to Comberton in a repeat of last year’s Lower Junior Cup final and soon had the home side in deep trouble at 69-6 as Torin Phelps (3-32) and Sean Jenkins (2-26) made early inroads. Comberton’s number seven Ben Clark with 66 not out from just 58 balls led the fightback as he shared good stands with Kirker, Chapman and Swift and enabled the hosts to post 182. Adam Hodgkisson (2-40) and ex-first team skipper Liam Flynn (1-19) finally bringing the innings to a close.

At this level a score of 18o plus is usually successful, however Sean Jenkins had other ideas as he shared a 90 run second wicket partnership with Hodgkisson (40) and further decent partnerships with Chris Kerby and Liam Flynn before he fell for 84 with the winning post in sight at 173 for 4. Jenkins in recent years has had to content himself batting at nine, ten or jack for the first and then the second team narrowly failed to join Hussain and Kindred on the Club’s Honours Board. The experienced Flynn was joined by Lewis Cracknell to see SBCC over the line for a six-wicket victory with just three overs to spare.