Aldborough Choke in 400 run Thriller!
The visit of Hethersett and tas Valley to The Green on Saturday was
always going to be a big game. Both sides came in unbeaten and both
felt a win was possible.Eddy won the toss and put H and TV into bat
on a damp, green wicket. An early strike from Paul Reeve set the
nerves jangling for H and TV but Puttock and M Ellis steadied the ship
reaching 62-1 after 22 overs. These two then built up the run rate and
some loose bowling let the scoreboard tick over freely with a big
score looking likely. Big Nick Dingle then came on and removed Ellis
with a perfect yorker. At the other end Streaky Bacon was bowling
tight lines and was rewarded first with a catch in the deep and then a
stumping from Cannon to remove the danger-man Puttock for 71. The run
rate dipped again and some good bowling and fielding restricted the
total to a highly competitive 212 - 6 with Streaky Bacon taking 3 for
52 off his 11 overs.
In reply Flannigan went early bringing the in-form Tom Farrow to the
crease with Paul Reeve. After a series of glorious cuts Farrow was
undone going for another as he top edged to the keeper for 19.
Botwright came and went with a charge down the pitch to Abbas who beat
his outside edge and the keeper whipped off the bails. A fuming
Botwright was followed almost immediately by Troy Allen , also undone
by the devious Abbas. Bacon and Reeve started to look good before
Bacon was bowled by Shelley leaving Aldborough reeling on 130-5.
Cannon joined Reeve and they pushed the score along and built a solid
partnership. All was going to plan and we needed just 12 runs from the
last 4 overs when Reeve (78) was caught well at mid wicket trying to
hoist Abbas over the top and just a few balls later Cannon (42) was
bowled playing across the line. This bought Perry-Warnes and Skinner
to the crease but the two new batsmen could not knock off the runs
faced with some tight bowling and lively fielding. With Skinner
needing a six off the last ball it was always asking alot and as the
ball looped up into the air we realised that the game was gone.
Despite the loss Aldborough played with immense team spirit against a
strong side and lots of positives can come out of it. Next week is a
huge game at Old Buckenham A and will further test the resolve of
Botwright’s Merry Men.
On Sunday, Cookies Crusaders travelled to Reepham and Salle and
despite losing had a good day out. Run machine Paul Reeve was on fire
again hitting an unbeaten 64 as Aldborough posted 201-5 off their 40
overs. With a weakened Aldborough bowling attack Reepham and Salle got
the runs with just two overs to spare. Tom Seaman had another top
spell continuing his rapid improvement with figures of 8 - 0 - 34 - 0
while Reeve posted 6 - 2 - 11 - 0. Aldborough handed debuts to two
youngsters in Jake Sayers and Daniel Broughton who both played very
well and impressed the skipper Cook who himself bowled well to take 6
- 0 - 26 - 2. Even the Mighty Fish turned his arm over, bowling three
overs of ripping, fizzing off breaks. Somwehow the batsmen survived
his onslaught as he only managed 3 - 0 - 28 - 0.
Next week the 1’s tarvel to Old Buckenham A with the 2’s hosting
Frettenham. Cookies Crusaders play Marlingford at their place.
See you on The Green!
Sean Bush.