Tough one for Strads

Ipswich II beat Stradbroke A by 78 runs. It sounds like a thrashing, yet the home skipper noted that Stradbroke were the best team they had played, which points to Ipswich II being crowned champions come September.

Ipswich II beat Stradbroke A by 78 runs. It sounds like a thrashing, yet the home skipper noted that Stradbroke were the best team they had played, which points to Ipswich II being crowned champions come September.

Despite early inroads by Pearson and Ling, confident of their own surface, Rusby and Connelly took the game away from Stradbroke with a stand of 139 in 24 overs.

Rusby started watchfully, but soon found the boundary at will, completing a chanceless century, ended on 108 with a run out. Connelly continued patiently to 74 not out, supported by a breezy 31 from Andy Southall.

Chasing 267, Stradbroke never panicked. David Allum (46) and Alex Fitchett (33) showed continued good form putting on 73. A mid-innings collapse put victory on hold, despite a neat 30 from Stuart Taylor. Ling (16) and Lee Bedwell (27) put on a 54-run stand for the seventh wicket to bat out time with dignity intact.

Scores: Ipswich II 267-6 (J Rusby 108, S Connelly 74, A Southall 31). Stradbroke A 189-8 (D Allum 46, A Fitchett 33, S Taylor 30, L Bedwell 27).