21st June, 2025
SHCC gave season debuts to both Jack Pickthorn and our new AED
Thankfully Pickthorn was used far more urgently as he top scored with 26 during the win over Walsham Le Willows which whilst not allaying fears of a season long relegation battle, at least kept us up witlubs and renewed hopes of survival
Brammers efforts in vain as SHCC downed by relegation rivals
Richard Bramley top scored with 69 in Saturdays Division 8 Two Counties contest against St Margarets CC, but even after his hard work spearheaded a season best total of 232, SHCC were unable to defend the total going down by 5 wickets with two overs to spare.
Brammers and Nick Joel, playing his first game of the season, put on a season high 47 for the first wicket as SHCC batted sensibly against a hotch potch of home bowlers and once Joel fell John Moore joined the Chairman in a 69 run second wicket partnership before Brammers fell for a 87 ball 69 including 10 fours.
Arthur Pickthorn added 21 before he chipped one to mid off and then came Tim Kent, who smashed his way to 39 out of a 62 run combination with Moore. Kents innings came off just 33 balls and included 6 fours.
As the innings closed Moore remained 53 not out from 82 balls with 9 fours and SHCC posted a season high 232 for 5.
However, with limited bowling resources and many of those carrying injuries, St Margarets were able to chip away at the total and eventually surpassed it with just under 2 overs to spare
Robert Mark grabbed 2 for 62.
25th May, 2025
Same old story of batting woes for SHCC
Put into bat by visitors, Woolpit CC, Sudbourne once again failed to get to grips with a steady bowling line up on a pitch offering some assistance. However too many batters threw away their wickets when patience was called for and a total of 122 was never going to be enough for a meaningful defence. Richard “Dusty” Daykin top scored with 25* , Wilf Milligan 24 and Arthur Pickthorn 20.
Daykin’s run total is now a club leading 128
Peter Mark bowled and battled bravely in the lost cause in picking up 3 for 25 from his 12 overs and now has taken a club leading 9 wickets
Kent and Milligan battle, but SHCC felled by Copdock
Tim Kent steered his way through a desolate batting performance by Sudbourne to record his first half century of the season, finally falling for 54 and Wilf Milligan finished with 49, to be the only members of the home batting card to make an impression on tight bowling from the hosts.
The pair put on 77 for the second wicket, but once they were both back in the pavilion, only Charlie Jackson (16) reached double figures as SHCC posted just 148 having been asked to bat first.
In their reply Copdock had a couple of swashbuckling innings to take any pressure off the chase, despite Peter Mark taking 3 for 50. Dropped catches didn’t help the home cause, but in the end the total was way short of par and Copdock coasted to victory with 6 wickets in hand.
May 3rd 2025
Despite the efforts of Kent and Lockyer, SHCC lose to Melton
Although falling to back to back defeats, this time to local rivals, Melton St Audreys, SHCC did finally get past an opening stand of six, this time reaching eight before Richard Bramley, coming in to the line up late, due to Jenks’ over exertions on the paddle/cricket/golf/mower/golf course (pick two from four).
At least it showed SHCC were serious about reducing the average age of the team each week.
Ian Foll remained stoical at the other end as further wickets fell and when he was out for 33 it was left to skipper, Ian Lockyer with 29 and Tim Kent with 33 to try and give the score some respectability. The pair coming together at 65-6 and not separated until the total had reached 128. Jack Pynn also hit a quick fire 11* to see the total reach 144 at the close of the innings.
Peter Mark opened the bowling for SHCC and despite going wicketless from his 12 overs, he only conceded 11 runs from just ten scoring shots in his entire spell, but alas Eddie Green eventually shrugged off the shackles and notched his way to a match winning knock of 78*.
Arthur Milligan (1-31) and Lockyer (1-38) shared the only wickets to fall as Melton St Audreys reached their target in the 37th over.
Even Tea was subdued this week, as although it was the usual sumptious array of all things good and bad, a bit like SHCC, there was an air of despondancy in the camp, which will need to change as there are many battles to come.
Thanks go to Jenny for once again sorting the kettles and tea bags along with making sure the break, at least, went smoothly.
26th April 2025
Foll and Daykin score fifties
Ian Foll recorded his first League fifty for Sudbourne, on his way to 74 and Richard Daykin rolled back the years on his return to his first stomping ground in Suffolk, Stowmarket, with 73, but it proved to be in vain as the hosts chased down their target of 204 for the loss of just five wickets.
Skipper, Ian Lockyer took a much changed side to the season first away game and despite losing the first wicket with six again on the scoreboard, history didn’t repeat itself as Foll and Daykin set about the bowling in a partnership of just under 100. The final total of 204 about a par score, but one that had the “locals” expecting the worst.
SHCC struggled to make early breakthroughs though as Stowmarket’s confidence began to grow, and it was left to Lockyer , who did his best with 4-30, to lead from the front. However once he and Peter Mark had completed their 12 over spells, the rest of the bowlers struggled to make further inroads and the home win was assured
25th April 2025
The season is underway
The cricket season has started. After minimal rain over recent months (a very different story to last year!) the ground is looking resplendent. Big thank you to Rob Jenkin and his team of helpers.
Our Saturday league team started their Two Counties Division 8 campaign with a win over Long Melford.
In typical Sudbourne fashion it wasn’t straight forward, after losing the toss and being put in by the visitors, Ian Lockyer’s team slumped to 6 for 4 after 5 overs. Come to the rescue debutant John Moore, who batted with dogged resilience and plenty of guile in his 68* guiding Sudbourne to 128 for 7 after their allotted 45 overs.
As is now a regular thing at all home games, with teams were treated to one of Michelle’s fantastic mixing bowl teas. (It’s always tough having to field afterwards!)
Long Melford seemed to be cruising to victory despite a tight opening spell from Peter Mark. However, a spirited fightback in the last 10 overs saw wickets fall and the visitors needed 11 of the last over and 4 off the last ball.
Yes, it was very much ’squeaky bum’ time, but Sudbourne held on for a 2 run win on a chilly April day.
Youth cricket is due to get underway on Sunday 1st June. Again, more info on the website, click on the ‘youth’ tab on the home screen.
We’ve also added several ’not so serious’ social home T20 fixtures to the calendar in July. Thanks to Tom Milligan for organising.
A very warm welcome and thanks to Stephen Kirby who has taken on the treasurer role at the club, following on from the excellent work that Nick Joel has done over the last couple of years.
Finally, a big thank you to all of our Vice Presidents both new and old. Your support, both in person and financially, is vital for the continuing existence of small rural clubs like ours.
We plan to invite all our VPs to a Saturday league game for drinks and nibbles when the weather gets warmer.
For everyone, do pop down and see us on a Saturday afternoon at ’The Hall’ and enjoy the wonderful setting.
April 20th 2025
Moore chases away the chills as Sudbourne Hall get season underway with a win!
With a magnificent innings of concentration and application John Moore guided SHCC to 128 for 7, scoring 68 not out on debut. His innings rescued SHCC from the depths of 6 for four having been asked to bat first by Long Melford CC in the Two Counties Division 8b opener.
Moore had partnerships of 47 with Rickard Daykin (16) and 50 with skipper Ian Lockyer (12) to first steady the ship and then set up a defendable target for the visitors to try and reach.
Steady bowling from Peter Mark (2 for 19) and Lockyer (3 for 30) then restricted them to just 125 handing SHCC 19 points from a tense and at more than one point an unlikely victory
Previous News
As we embark on the perilous unchartered waters of the Two Counties Division 8b, we will have a new skipper at the helm, Ian Lockyer.
Armed with a positive attitude, several new players and fresh from winter nets, Lockyer has high hopes for the season and is fully expectant of more wins than losses this time around. However, there are many unknowns in Division 8b and no doubt many obstacles to be overcome before we can look back and say finally a successful season where progress has been made, club development on and off the field given strong foundations and a rosy future to be welcomed
Sudbourne Hall Cricket Club 