Match Reports

26 June 2021 - No fixture 

Although there was no fixture, results going Bardfield's way elsewhere saw the village return to top of the table. A huge fixture next week against Sudbury CC 2s, but another open club Friday night event could draw a Stowmarket repeat... Lessons learnt? Doubtful. 

Little Bardfield VCC vs Tuddenham CC

19 June 2021

The first game at Fortress Bardfield for seven weeks provides a welcome recovery for Bardfield with the seasons worst looking pitch providing the most runs seen at home yet. 

A very wet week leading into this fixture created doubt as to whether it would be played. The good news was that the covers got on before the rain came, the ba news is they did not work. However, both teams were keen to play so Tuddenham made the journey and were very understanding of the poor looking pitch.

Bardfield won the toss and unsurprisingly were invited to bat first. Its rare that you can hear the squelch of a ball hitting a length but in a strange turn of events the pitch played better than the early season dustbowls and it was game on! In fact Tuddenham's opening partnership score 150 for the first wicket with Alex Lack carrying his bat for all 45 overs finishing with 139*. Tuddenham batted their 45 overs finishing on 238-4. 

In response, Bardfield had a shakey start losing regular wickets but the introduction of Peter Stone swung the game back in Bardfield's favour with some powerful counter-hitting. However, when he was dismissed for 84 Bardfield were still 57 runs short. Thankfully Matt Graham (39*) saw the club home as Bardfield reached their target in the 41st overs having lost seven wickets. 

Click here to see the full scorecard. 

A weekend off next week as the rest of the division catches up with Bardfield's extra bank holiday fixture earlier in the season will see the half way point of the season. 

Stowmarket CC vs Little Bardfield Village CC 

12 June 2021

All good things have to come to an end. 

The unbeaten run is over in dramatic fashion! The club's first open club Friday night event went down fantastically well, possibly a little too well as the players staggered home in the early hours trying not to think of the long car journey ahead. 

Bardfield won the toss and what can only be put down to a hungover miscalculation invited Stowmarket to bat not helped by Bardfields opening bowlers struggling to work out which of the sets of stumps at the other end they should be aiming at. Daryl Hymas quickly forgot about his torn MCL and brought himself on to bowl to show the team how its done. However, he was quickly reminded about his injuries and was loaded into the back of a pick up truck to take no further part in the game. Stowmarket score 317-5 from their 45 overs. 

In response Bardfield never really got going losing regular wickets until a eighth wicket stand of 82 between Rory Hitchcock (48) and Callum Hymas (31*) brought bardfield maximum batting points in a day otherwise best forgotten. 

Click here to see the full scorecard (but it's not advised) 

Long Melford CC vs Little Bardfield Village CC 

5 June 2021 

A clash between two of Division Threes early pace-setters saw Little Bardfield march on with victory over Long Melford.

On a hot and sunny June afternoon, putting the grim efforts of May behind us, Long Melford won the toss and elected to bat on their home patch.

An innings that lacked fluency at times but helped by some indiscipline from Bardfield's bowlers, Melford made their way to 227-8 from their 45 overs. Matt Graham was the pick of the bowlers with 3-59, while there were 2 wickets each for Will Slemmings and Rory Hitchcock. Bardfield stuck to the task well overall with an excellent fielding display.

Daryl Hymas strode out of the trenches on one leg to power Bardfield on their way with with an explosive 93, ably supported by Peter Stone with an unbeaten 59 and a pair of 20s from Joe Owen and Rich Linney. Owen completed a fine all round game to go with 2 important catches earlier on. Bardfield reached the target of 228 just 3 wickets down and with 8 overs remaining.

Click here to see the full scorecard. 

Bardfield's unbeaten season moves on to Stowmarket away next Saturday.

Abberton & District CC vs Little Bardfield Village CC

31 May 2021

Unfortunately Tom Graham, club captain and aspiring wordsmith was not available for this game and therefore a match report was not created - despite Daryl Hymas repeatedly promising to write one (first game he got runs in for a while). So a very brief round up: 

However, Bardfield got a new new club record total amassing 378 from their 45 overs (Hymas 121, E Hitchcock 160, Stone 56) before restricting Abberton to 270-8 (Owen 2-9. C Hymas 2-23, Stone 2-63, R Hitchcock - 1-55). 

Click here to see the full scorecard.

29 May 2021 - No Fixture 

Easton CC vs Little Bardfield Village CC

22 May 2021

LBVCC dug deep as the 2021 winning juggernaut rolls on including a Ben Stokes moment and an unwanted (unconfirmed) record.

After titanic journey across multiple counties, against the odds, all member of the team arrived prior to the 1pm start. Stand in skipper Daryl Hymas lost the toss and the opposition chose to bat. Bardfield stepped out on the field three bowlers light of the usual fragile bowling attack... it was always going to be a tough task.

That being said, a heroic opening effort from Matt Graham (3 for 30) and Will Slemmings (4 for 26) reduced the Easton to 67-7, however, the movement the skipper was dreading was just around the corner. Will had reached his maximum 12 overs on the bounce and the bowling changes were on the horizon. After what seemed like giving all members of the team a go with the ball, the results can only be summed up in the number of extras bowled throughout the innings - accumulating to 44 wides and 6 no balls. Which we believe is a new (unconfirmed) record. With that in mind it was a minor miracle that LBVCC MANAGED TO BOWL A TEAM OUT (with 3 balls to spare). Peter Stone stealing the last three wickets.

Easton CC 152/10 - A tricky total on a tough pitch.

Tough start for LBVCC as usual opener and stand in skipper noted the tough wicket and craftily dropped himself down the order claiming the infamous knee injury - we wouldn't take him to the trenches. A nervy start meant Bardfield found themselves 8-2. However, guile, experience and knowhow came to the party as Ed Hitchcock, Matt Graham and Will Slemmings saw the boys home - finishing on 74, 22 and 24 respectively. Ed Hitchcock channelling his inner Ben Stokes at Headingly as he refused to acknowledge his 50. In his own words after the game "Job was not done".

Click here to see the full scorecard. 

A rare full 20 points takes Bardfield to top of the table with a lot of season ahead. Next week we go again as we travel to Abberton CC.

Little Bardfield VCC vs Mistley CC 2s

15th May 2021 

Rained off

Little Bardfield VCC vs Haverhill CC 2s 

8th May 2021 

Rained off 

Little Bardfield VCC vs Felixstowe CC 2s

3rd May 2021

On Bank Holiday Monday, Felixstowe arrived to conditions more commonly seen out at sea, and with heavy rain forecast, the game was reduced to 30 overs a side.

Captain Tom (Graham) won his 4th toss in a row - his only worthwhile mention so far this season - and elected to bat first.

Once again, batting kudos was reserved for Ed Hitchcock and Peter Stone, who both scored 50s, but top scorer for the innings turned out to be Extras with 55 - including 44 wides. The home side finished on a daunting 221-6 from their 30 overs.

The wind picked up even more in the 2nd half with regular interruptions from the sighscreens, nets and covers, which all blew onto the pitch at some point. The visitors chase never really got going with an excellent new ball burst from Will Slemmings picking up 3 cheap wickets.

Settling for batting points in the end, Felixstowe finished on 166-5 from their 30 overs. Slemmings final figures for 3-31 from 8 overs.

A double-victory weekend for Bardfield cementing their early place towards the top of the table. Next Saturday is another home game, with Haverhill next to make the trip to Fortress Bardfield.

Little Bardfield VCC vs Walsham Le Willows CC 

1st May 2021 

The first fixture of the bank holiday double header saw Bardfield play host to Walsham le Willows for what both clubs believe to be the first time ever.

The home side batted first and posted a competitive score of 224, with Ed Hitchcock continuing his excellent form with 87 off 85 balls (more of him later too), more than ably supported by Nelion Ridley who hit his maiden half-century for the club with 64.

The match was evenly poised with Walsham moving to 96-2 with plenty of time left, but a stunning hat trick from Rory Hitchcock, with all dismissals clean bowled, put Bardfield back in the driving seat, before Matt Graham finished it off with the first 5-fer of the season. Walsham were bowled out for 131 in a collapse similar to many Bardfield supporters would have seen over the years. Matt Graham finished with figures of 5-31 and Rory Hitchcock 4-37.

Woolpit CC 2s vs Little Bardfield VCC 

24th April 2021 

Little Bardfield recorded their highest ever score in the Two Counties championship during a 100 run win against Woolpit.
Bardfield post 353-4 in their 45 overs with the bulk of the runs coming in a partnership of 274 between Ed Hitchcock and Peter Stone. 

On a sunny day with a good batting deck, Bardfield thankfully won the toss and chose to bat. A quickfire opening stand between Daryl Hymas and Rich Linney got the innings going, before both fell to bring Hitchcock and Stone to the crease. The former has been one of the clubs most consistent batting performers over the last few years, and the latter was making his first Two Counties appearance since 2016.

Both batted beautifully with a consistent flurry of fours and sixes throughout the innings. Hitchcock reached his century first, before being run out for 122 towards the end of the innings. Stone motored his way to three figures soon after, going from 50 to 100 in just 25 balls. He finished unbeaten on 135 off 86 balls.

It was always going to be a tricky task to get 10 wickets on a flat track, but it became even tougher with Woolpit deciding to aim for full batting points instead of trying for a chase. All of Bardfield's bowlers toiled away, with Woolpit finishing their 45 overs on 253-3. Will Slemmings, Callum Hymas and Daryl Hymas picking up a wicket each. A frustrating 2nd half to the game, but a win is a win and Bardfield came away with 16 out of the 20 points available.

Click here to see the full scorecard.  

Bardfield return home for a Bank Holiday double-header, facing Walsham le Willows on Saturday and Felixstowe on Monday. Both are 1pm starts.

Little Bardfield VCC vs Sudbury CC 2s

17th April 2021 

On an unusually dry and uneven April surface, Little Bardfield played host to Sudbury 2nd XI in what turned out to be an very even, exciting contest. 

After a years break from competitive league cricket, both sides were understandably rusty, but thankful to be back playing again after a tough winter.

Sudbury won the toss and elected to bat. Opener Dan Poole anchored much of the innings with 30, while Cameron Stace top scored with 39. Like Little Bardfield's innings later, much of the wickets were self-inflicted. Rory Hitchcock bowled beautifully though to claim figures of 4-31, backed up by Will Slemmings with 3-30. Sudbury were bowled out for 115.

After a brief pause to join the national silence in honour of Prince Phillip, the initial cricket that followed was far less respectful as Bardfield slipped to 38-6. Matt Graham and Will Slemmings met at the crease, both having not faced a ball. A brief fightback was led by Graham, who top scored with a quick fire 25, but two more wickets left Bardfield really struggling at 68-8. Enter the bowling heroes with Slemmings joined by Rory Hitchcock with the pair showing great composure and skill to put on a partnership of 48 to guide the home side to victory. A low scoring thriller to start the season, in a game played in good spirits from both teams.

The inaugural Bishop Nick Man of the Match Award was jointly offered to Rory Hitchcock and Will Slemmings for their efforts with both ball and bat. 

Click here to see the full scorecard. 

The full 20 points were awarded to Little Bardfield taking them to an early joint top of the table. They travel to Woolpit next Saturday.