Mixed Week as 1’s Agony is 2’s Delight!
Aldborough 1’s, still reeling from the disappointment of choking against Hethersett the previous week, were looking to bounce back away at a very strong, unbeaten Old Buckenham side.
Batting first Aldborough welcomed back Gerrard Cooper and he with Paul Reeve saw off the lively Goldsmith and Indian Overseas star Amit Das to post 45 without loss off 14 overs. A bowling change saw Reeve chase a wide delivery, edging behind from Barnett. Tom Farrow then Botwright were quickly dismissed soon after and with good bowling from Savage and Barnett, Aldborough struggled through the middle overs. Cooper was out for 31 in the 30th over with the score on 90- for 4 Aldborough had to push on. Troy Allan was looking set but was starved of the strike for long periods and couldn’t get the big shots going. The bowling attack was impressive and offered very few loose balls for the Aldborough batsmen. A flurry of good shots from Tom Hume (19 n/o) in the last few overs brought Aldborough to a disappointing 148 for 8 – some 80 runs short of a competitive score. In reply Aldborough were lively and pressured the home side well with some good bowling and fielding early on. Reeve in particular was dangerous and removed Dunnett with the help of a superb catch at short leg from Allen. Amit Das then entered the scene and first ball was very close to being LBW to Reeve. Next ball he smashed for four but Reeve had him in trouble having him dropped twice in a short period. During this spell the Aldborough bowler pulled up with a knee injury and had to leave the field at a crucial time. After this, Flannagan and Allen showed they were no comedy duo when they pressured the Old Buckenham team with a good spell of bowling. As the game slipped away with Das hitting a fast and impressive 42 Aldborough began to lose the plot with some uncharacteristaclly sloppy fielding and dropped catches meaning that any slight chance of victory was spent. Despite this Allen continued bowling well and removed Das but this was not enough to halt the home sides progress as they hit the winning runs with 15 overs to spare.
Man of Match : TROY ALLAN
Frettenham Skinned by Mack Attack!
Aldborough ‘A’s season at last got out of the starting blocks with a spectacular win over Frettenham on the Green. Winning the toss for the first time this season, skipper Robinson was able to put the opposition in to bat and, with the new ball, attempt to restrict the batting side to a chaseable total. It started well with the opening bowling partnership of Tom Ash (1 for 43) and young Kevin Walton (3 for 41) taking three early wickets to leave Frettenham reeling on 28-3. However, two dropped catches which on another day could well have proved fatal, enabled P Norton to build an excellent innings of 106 not out. Ably supported in the middle order by M Brown (16) and P Davison (22), late wickets from Robinson (2 for 34) were not enough to prevent Frettenham reaching a somewhat daunting total of 207, given the fragility of Aldborough’s batting in previous outings.
In reply, the opening partnership of Charlie Mack and Matt Skinner started well with runs coming easily thanks to some wayward bowling. In fact, the pair were never behind the run rate, and it soon became apparent that they had the opportunity to get themselves well established thanks to excellent shot selection and execution.
Despite regular bowling changes in an attempt to break the partnership Frettenham were unable to make the breakthrough they desperately needed and, apart from one very close call for a run out, were never able to impose themselves on the batsmen. In the end Mack (93 not out) and Skinner (70 not out) cruised home with six overs to spare to record a memorable 10 wicket victory and surely one of the best partnerships in the history of the league.
Aldborough Black Boys Man of the Match: CHARLIE MACK
The Sunday match at Marlingford was rained off.
Next weeek the 1’s are on The Green against Norwich B while the 2’s travel to Hingham.
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See you on The Green!
Sean Bush.