Aldborough charge for the title!
Acle ‘A’ vs Aldborough 1sts
Aldborough are now just one or two wins away from launching an astonishing title push after a big win against Acle and the A team ended their losing run with a thrashing of Diss B. Could there be more silverware in the cabinet at the end of this season?
Acle A vs Aldborough 1sts
In probably the best all round team performance of the season Aldborough travelled to AcleAldborough are now just one or two wins away from launching an astonishing title push after a big win against Acle and the A team ended their losing run with a thrashing of Diss B. Could there be more silverware in the cabinet at the end of this season? and returned with a 25 point victory. With results in the division mostly falling for the Greens, Aldborough closed in on the top spots with Great Witchingham.
Batting first on a green and firm track Aldborough started steadily with Cooper and Botwright cautiously putting on 39 for the first wicket before the Captain holed out for 19. The next partnership brought together the two left handers and progressed the team score onto 106 in the 30th over. During this period Cooper looked back to near his best and deservedly reached his half century with a boundary. Dismissed on 52 Cooper left the door open for the middle order to build upon the excellent partnership with the big guns still to come. Farrow, then made a breezy 12 and at the other end the former Acle player continued to move the score on at a run a ball to pass his own personal half century.
Aldborough progressed to 175 for 4 in the 39th over with a Bacon cameo of 17. At a time when the score should have been moved on at a faster rate, wickets falling at key moments and the new batsmen playing dot balls and not exchanging the strike meant the team score did not explode as anticipated. At the other end the veteran all rounder when given the opportunity continued to play well and moved from his 50 to a final score of 89 not out at a rate of more than 2 runs per ball to leave the team on a respectable but not unbeatable 213 for 5 wickets.
In reply Botwright set an intelligent field and the less than mobile opening partnership of Franks and Handley found life difficult. Dingle at one end bowled well and at the other end slightly tired from his innings the ex-Acle player bowled 7 overs for 7 runs. This pressure saw Handley falling to a great catch from Perry Warnes.
Despite the good bowling and with the aid of two spilled chances Aldborough did not penetrate the home side. Mallett and Franks batted well but Aldborough fielders were up to the challenge. Sizeland, Skinner and Perry-Warnes despite not being in the game with bat or ball were excellent and it was no surprise that the pressure exerted by the Greens meant that Acle’s reply faltered. Despite being still up with the rate there was a feeling of pressure and attrition and when Flanagan and Bacon bowled in tandem, Aldborough got on top. Some great catches in the outfield by Botwright and Worthington and some great glove work by Farrow supported the bowling. In time Aldborough through Bacon, Dingle and Flanagan ground down the home team and eventually they gave up the ghost to hand victory to the visitors.
Aldborough ‘A’ Diss-mantle the opposition
Aldborough ‘A’s returned to winning ways with a convincing win over Diss ‘B’. After an hour of steady rain in the morning, skipper David Robinson was relieved to win the toss and insert the opposition on a flat, drying track. A tight opening spell from Mark Holroyd and Kevin Walton pegged back the Diss openers and, in the seventh over, Walton broke through twice with catches held by Mike Cramp and Robinson. With the ball swinging wickets continued to fall regularly and change bowlers Ray Smith and Charlie Mack kept up the pressure. Most importantly, catches were held, in particular two good ones by Tim Nicholson who, relieved of the wicket keeper’s gloves, showed he can take a good catch at slip and in the deep. In the meantime, only Sage in the Diss middle order showed any resistance at the crease ending on a respectable 38.
In reply, chasing just 115 Nicholson and Mack opened the innings brightly with both putting the bad ball away effectively and Mack giving another display of excellent stroke play. By the time Nicholson was out for 20 Aldborough were already half way to their target, and when Mack was out for a fine 56 Aldborough were cruising home, Cramp and Robinson seeing the home team through with 20 overs to spare.
Aldborough Black Boys Man of the Match: Tim Nicholson