Title race is on!
Aldborough 1’s called off but league race hots up again!
Unfortunately Aldborough’s game against Rollesby was called off which
left the first team short of what should have been an easy win. At
this crucial stage of the season it appeared that this may tip the
balance against The Greens as Hethersett and Old Buckenham both had
winnable games.
To the delight of the players both our rivals slipped
up with Old Buckenham tieing and Hethersett losing. This blows the
title race wide open with all three teams as well as Gt Witchingham A
within a point of each other at the top of the table. As the local
media still seem to have a permanent block on registering our
existence in the title race, it is left to our players to do the
talking on Saturday in the crunch game v Hethersett at their place. On
a more sombre note, Troy Allan has returned to South Africa due to a
family bereavement and we all wish him well and hope that he returns
one day to Aldborough Green. Apparently he still has a tab at the
Black Boys which they want him to pay. I wish them all the best with
telling him that!
Aldborough ‘A’ hit new low at Lowestoft
Aldborough ‘A’ travelled to their match on Saturday against Lowestoft
‘B’ with high hopes that a good run-in to the end of the season might
yet see them competing for a top spot. However, despite the usual
positive aspects to their play, the overall performance was let down
again at crucial stages of the match by the frailties that have been
too evident this season.
With a dry and grassy surface Aldborough elected to take the new ball
and a tidy opening spell from openers Holroyd and Sizeland was repaid
when Holroyd took a smart catch off his own bowling in the fifth over
to dismiss Hebditch for 7. Change bowlers Mack, Smith and Cramp
continued to bowl good lines, but Patra for the home team caused
middle-order mayhem, riding his luck on numerous occasions until he
was brilliantly caught on the boundary by Holroyd off Cramp for 61.
It was a frustrating innings in many ways: Aldborough could have had
the opposition out for under 100 if they had held all their catches.
Equally, Lowestoft could have scored 250 if Aldborough didn’t hold the
catches they did. As it was, the home team ended their innings on 191
for 8.
In reply Aldborough needed a steady start. Finding themselves 16 for 3
with Mack, Nicholson and Cramp all back in the pavilion after the
first 10 overs was not what the doctor ordered. This brought skipper
Robinson to the wicket to join the experienced Fell. Between them they
steadily rebuilt the innings and, having seen off the opening bowlers
Salmon and Hebditch, gradually built the momentum until Fell was
caught behind for 17 with the score on 52. It was then Cannon’s turn
to continue the good work until he was caught out in the 29th over
when on 24 ending a fine partnership of 56. At this point, with some
15 overs remaining the required run rate was a very gettable 5.5 per
over as long as wickets remained in hand. Unfortunately, skipper
Robinson suffered a rush of blood when on 44, being stumped off the
slow bowling of Lowestoft skipper, Hills. This was a definite turning
point and whilst Holroyd was again in good form at the end of the
innings ending unbeaten on 27, he ran out of partners in the 43rd over
with Aldborough a frustrating 11 runs short of their target.
Aldborough Black Boys Man of the Match: Mark Holroyd
Aldborough CC v Heydon CC
Friendly
The Green, Aldborough
As Cawston cancelled the six a side competition after hearing about
our devastating victory in Aylsham, Cookie was forced to arrange a
game against the might of Heydon CC to keep the Aldboprough Sunday
boys out of mischief.
Aldborough swifty elected to bat after seeing the state of Tim Knight
and sent him off for a bloody Mary (well, a Guiness) while the two
rival wicketkeepers, Hollyoake and Cannon, went to pad up to face the
opening bowlers. Barry was in obvious high spirits due to his
promotion up the order and it was only later discovered that some kind
of dodgy deal involving Cookie, the pitch and a couple of local
teenage girls had been struck between the two Aldborough legends the
night before. Regardless, Barry was out there and he was looking
hungry. Cannon was also there and was enjoying the friendly banter as
Barry began sledging the bowlers from ball 1. After slapping a full
toss to the leg side boundary, Barry walked up to the bowler and
calmly stated “If you bowl it that short, it’ll be four every time”.
Cannon tried to explain to Barry that a full toss is not really a
short ball but he just laughed saying “Don’t matter to me, it’ll stil
be four”. Feeling somewhat confused, Cannon hit a straight six before
perishing the next ball for 19.
This initiated a sudden top order collapse which reduced Aldborough to
around 40 for 4 bringing the veteran all-rounder’s Flannigan and Reeve
to the crease. These two usually reliable journeyman toiled away
against some hostile pies before Reeve was undone by an evil double
bouncing pee-roller which, after Reeve had tried to claim the ‘third
bounce no ball’ rule, was nevertheless the end of his innings.
Flannigan, despite his advancing years, played well and made a good 30
odd before Swinbourne took over and played the most exquisite innings
to defy the Heydon attack. Swinbourne, the surprise package of
Aldborough’s season, played a series of flowing cover drives and
wristy leg glances, hitting the bowlers to all parts of the ground
with perfect timing and consummate skill. Many of the crowd were so
overcome by his batting style that they simply keeled over and died.
Tim Knight, now back to his usual form, was rather more reserved in
his praise simply saying “Once a twat, always a twat”.
By hook or crook Aldborough hit 171 for 7 with the mighty Swinbourne
unbeaten on 133. Sorry… 33.
Tea was eaten in the usual way, i.e by people lifting food to their
mouths and chewing before swallowing. Eddy turned up looking
dishevelled but fulfilled after entertaining his girlfriend all
weekend having called off the game on Saturday due to ’shagging
issues’. Dobbie was there. Jane was chatting away and Cookie was
asking the new landlord whether they were planning on having any ‘porn
nights’. In short, all was well and as it should be.
Heydon came out to bat, and their opener ‘Chad’ played a series of
nice looking drives before being bowled by Reevo. This was effectively
the end of any stroke play and what followed can only be described as
‘true village cricket’. The Spin Twins, Knight and Flannigan,
proceeded to bowl a mixture of Steak and Kidney, Beef and Vegetable,
Chicken and Mushroom and occasionally a Ginsters Pastie before the
legendary pace attack of Cook, Broughton and Sayers rolled into
action. Somewhere along the way it looked like Heydon may be in with a
chance but Aldborough always had a bit in reserve (Swinbourne and
Fisher had not bowled yet) and duly closed the game out with some
impressive pace bowling in the semi darkness by Perry-Warnes, backed
up by Reevo’s veteran swingers.
Heydon fell 3 runs short and Aldborough Green was laid to rest until next week.
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A big weekend approaches with games on Friday afternoon, Saturday and
Sunday so let the skippers know your availability. The Chris lewis
memorial weekend is close now as well so clear your diaries for that
one.
See you on The Green!
SC