BRADENHAM travelled to the beautifully manicured playing surface of Stow on Saturday and secured a winning draw with the elements coming close to ending the Alliance Division One game.

BRADENHAM travelled to the beautifully manicured playing surface of Stow on Saturday and secured a winning draw with the elements coming close to ending the Alliance Division One game.

With rain clouds circling the home team captain had no problem in inserting the visitors. Bradenham saw a change in their opening partners and looked untroubled scoring 49 for their first wicket. However after a rain break Luke Findlay played over a swinging ball from change bowler Cooke, departing on 27. Tianne Mostert and Steven Matthews began to despatch the bowlers to all parts. Both scored their half-centuries and kicked on with controlled aggression before Matthews was removed by the home captain, Eddie Landymore, for a well-deserved 80. Mostert fell four runs short of his century leaving the hosts to chase down a total of 229.

On a batting wicket, the hosts got off to a good start with Thompson playing with flair, ably backed by Howlett (18) before being caught at point by Gates. Cator bagged his second wicket taking a swift caught and bowled low down. Cutworth was to follow two balls later being run out by Thompson leaving the hosts on 67-3.

Captain Landymore continued where he left off at Bradenham, striking the ball sweetly, reaching his 50 in 53 balls. Gates trapped Thompson (41) leg before and Ryan Findlay had Mahwire caught in the deep from a wonderful diving catch from Rob Thurley.

With the dark clouds rolling in, Gates bowled Sargeant around his legs to bring the hard hitting R Landymore (18 not out) to the crease. Both batsmen continued to strike the ball cleanly with Eddie Landymore scoring 86 and taking his side past the 90 per cent and ending on 211-6 with 30 runs coming in their last two overs.

Bradenham A's Ian Gibb batted his way to two club records with a big boundary-laden century which helped set up a record opening partnership with Marcus Evans.

Against Overstrand, Gibb hit 13 sixes and 12 fours in an epic 152 not out. His last 10 scoring shots included eight sixes. Evans (46) and Gibb set a record opening partnership of 176. Chasing 200-1 dec, Overstrand were skittled out for 34.