Club record score fires Hall up to third

Seas End Hall (316-4) beat Eaton Socon 2nd (137) by 179 runs
Rutland League Division Five

RED-HOT: Seas End Hall’s first team.

Sublime Seas End Hall smashed a best-ever score of 316-4 on Sunday to climb into the top three of Rutland League Division Five.

Will Wright top scored with 89, while both Joe Broomfield (63) and Dave Venables (64no) also passed 50 in the club record total at Eaton Socon 2nd, before skittling their hosts out for 137.

Captain Tom Wilson continued his toss winning form and, on a pitch that was extremely hard, dry and flat, he decided to let his batsman take to the stage first in the hope they could take the game away from an inexperienced Eaton side.

The technically gifted David Thomas looked extremely comfortable at the crease as he set to the opening bowlers, helping himself to 36 before being clean bowled.

Fellow opener Wright lasted much longer as he fell just 11 runs short of a century before he too had his stumps smashed by a ball that stayed low.

Together, the openers put on a first wicket stand of 104 in only 18 overs – which gave the visitors a perfect platform from which to pile on the runs.

The nimble Broomfield showed his pedigree too as he hit his straps early. His half-century was made up almost entirely of ones and twos as partnerships continued to build.

Broomfield was joined at the crease by Venables, who continued his excellent season with an innings of experience. The pair put on 105 before Broomfield was stumped chasing a slow delivery.

This only brought the energetic Dave Endersbee to the crease, who took the attack to the home team with an unbeaten 23.

He did conspire to run out Venables for a fine 64, but Seas End finished their 45 overs with a mammoth tally that was always going to be out of reach for Eaton Socon.

Bidding to bowl their hosts out to collect maximum points, Hall opened with the wily swing bowling of Paul Foreman (3-25).

Eaton openers Peter Spear (20) and Ian Morrison (23) crept the score up to 42 before the wickets began to tumble.

The serene Wilson made the breakthrough and then he and Foreman clattered through the middle order, reducing Eaton to 61-5.

The end was delayed, however, as Gareth Thomas and Terry Day offered stoic resistance, with scores of 27 and 39 respectively, but as Broomfield trapped Day LBW, and the ever dependable Richard Gilbert had Thomas caught by Endersbee, it was a foregone conclusion.

Seas End Hall eventually bowled out their hosts for 137 to claim maximum points for the day. They now sit 36 points behind leaders Wakerley and Barrowden with two games in end.

This Sunday sees Seas End visit local rivals Wisbech (1.30pm).