Winning End to a Great Season!
Well, that’s it now, end of the league season and just three friendlies left before it’s all over. What a year though! Personally, i think it’s been a fantastic year for the club with success in both leagues and a great atmosphere within the club. This may be the last bulletin from me and i want to thank you for all your letters, cards and gifts that have come in through the season. I hope you’ve enjoyed these email updates and I wish you all the best for the closed season.
A lot to get through with four games this weekend. Please do read on though as some great matches were played out and some big performances.
Cheers!
SC
Match reports follow…
Aldborough CC V Old Leightonians CC
The Green, Aldborough
Friday 30th August
In his debut as skipper for Aldborough Cannon was dressed in his Sunday best for this beuatifully meaningless touring fixture. Old Leightonians were at the back end of a long tour and despite having all swum, naked and drunk on West Runton beach the night before, they looked remarkably well. Cannon put the tourists into bat and opened the bowling with debutant Tuthill and Latham. These two youngsters bowled well and kept Reeve out of the action with some good seam up bowling. As Tuthill sent down a rank wide in his fifth over Reeve began circling his arms in a manner that suggested he may fancy a bowl. Reeve and Pratt then bowled well keeping the Leightonian batsmen tied down. Despite good bowling from Flannigan and Pye-Smith O.L managed to post 179-9 off their 40 overs.
In reply it was clear that the Aldborough team were approaching drunk and Old Leightonians were well away, most of them had forgotten their own names by the time R Farrow and Arminger strolled out to open the batting. Farrow fell early leaving Arminger (16) and Flannigan (25) to get the scoreboard rolling. The two under 18’s batted well and Arminger was unfortunate to fall to a mis-timed pull to square leg. The Mighty Fish then lumbered out and was promptly sent back with an LBW decision that left the mighty farmer fuming. He was so angry that he cruched a small Renault Clio in one of his massive hands killing two and injuring another. Thankfully, the famous Aldborough CC insurance policy will cover those costs, so Fisher could relax and concentrate his rage on the umpire who he promised to “slice open, shred his bones and feed to the f***ing pigs”.
Harsh words from the big man.
Flannigan batted nicely while Cannon (30) batted like an Ipswich street whore, until thankfully he was forced to retire with a six to cow corner. Reeve (25) played some nice shots until he suffered the same fate and Flannigan was then bowled by an almighty pie that seemed to blind him by its utter rubbishness. Tuthill (19) played a few lusty blows and Latham also impressed with a good 14*. With 18 needed off the last over both Cannon and Reeve were allowed back into the fray only to be undone playing a dancing slash and a switch hit respectively. All in all, it simply did not matter anymore. Everyone was drunk and it was Friday night. I have no idea what happened after that but I woke up in Spearmint Rhino, £500 worse off and with a strange, musty aroma coming from my face. I saw my mate ‘S. Win-Horn’ later but he just laughed saying, “you’ll be dead if your missus finds out”. Hopefully she won’t. Please.
Aldborough V Bungay – Norfolk League 1
Sat 31st Aug
Bungay CG
Senior player and former club Captain Tony Fell described the victory against Bungay on Saturday as the most remarkable finish to a match he had ever played in. Aldborough were not only staggering against the ropes but had been on the canvas a number of times and were just waiting for the referee to stop this fight. The irony was that Aldborough exhibited a fighting spirit not seen for some time and picked themselves up dusted themselves down and won the match which took to them a third place finish in division one.
Batting first Bungay tempted captain Botwright and he took the bait to leave Aldborough one down early on. Reeve and Cooper then built a partnership and both left handers played well. Reeve looking in good form moved the ball around and never looked in trouble. Controversially though Reeve down the wicket looking to lift the ball over mid wicket was hit high on the thigh and was given out leg before. Farrow joined Cooper And both continued well. The score moved on to 130 for 2 after 30 overs and a big score looked on the cards. Farrow was then undone by pitch and for the second time Aldborough suffered from a leg before decision when Allan was given out for a duck.
The next 10 overs saw Aldborough batting cautiously with Flanagan and Cooper looking to launch an assault towards the end, however Cooper was dismissed for a very good 77. Wickets fell but Flanagan showed great maturity in picking the gaps and running well and mixed with some big hits and made a valuable 46 in 31 balls. The score eventually reached 216 which may have been 20 short of a good score but was a defendable total.
In reply Bungay came out with intent to win and win in style. Aldborough had forgotten the new ball and an old one was used which made life difficult. Watts crashed 10 off the first over from Reeve and then was similarly aggressive to Farrow at the other end. A series of maidens from Reeve and tight bowling by Farrow stemmed the rate and caused Watts to hole out. Lewis was in similar frame of mind but Flanagan fresh from his bowling efforts brought the game back to Aldborough.
However wickets did not fall and the score moved to 75 for 1 and Bungay once again looked comfortable. Flanagan removed Fuller but this brought in the big hitting York who smashed his way to 55 in quick time and took the score to 156 for 2 in the 30th over. Reeve then got Lewis and then incredibly without any real pressure Davy called through York and Reeve and Farrow combined to run the dangerous hitter out. The score at 160 for 4 with 11 overs remaining brought the game back into balance. However the even bigger hitting Davies started to wind up. With Davy they got the score to 178 with 9 overs remaining and only 39 runs required. But incredibly Davy chanced his arm to Reeve again and for the second time and despite a fumble managed to keep a cool head and threw the ball to the correct end for another run out. 178 for 5. Davies then swung the game back to Bungay and within sight of victory with some huge hitting off Reeve and Allan. The score stood at 205 for 5 with Davies on 41. Bungay needed 12 runs from 7 overs and the game was all but over. Aldborugh in site of defeat began as a unit to smile and encourage and be upbeat. This positive attitude plus some excellent fielding must have exerted unknown pressure to Bungay. Allan then took the game by the scruff of the neck. He bowled a tight over to Davies who incredibly tried to smash a Yorker and was bowled. The score was now 205 for 6 with 8 overs to go. Aldborough gained some belief but James and Fuller took the score to 212 for 6. However Farrow and Allan were bowling brilliantly and with only 5 to win and 4 overs left Farrow dismissed Fuller and it was 212 for 7. Bungay with only singles required were still favourites but Allan bowled a superb double wicket maiden and the score was 212 for 9 and now Aldborough believed they could win. Farrow bowled an excellent over and the game went to the last six balls. A single off the first ball left Kirkpatrick facing Allan. The batsman pushed the next ball back and they attempted a single, however Allan calmly fielded and broke the stumps for a run out and Aldborough completed an incredible victory by 2 runs.
Man of the match: Ben Flanagan
Aldborough A v Watton (Norfolk League Div 
The Green, Aldborough
Sat 31st Aug
Watton travelled to The Green needing a win to secure the title and complete the turnaround of a club which came close to folding three years ago. Despite missing one or two of their top players a win against third from bottom Aldborough A was always on the cards. Aldborough, however, came into the game on the back of wins against both of Watton’s title challengers and were hopeful of springing another upset in the fiercely contested division 8.
It was clear early from early pitch inspections that the wicket was going to spring a few surprises and Watton captain, Steve Parfitt, won the toss and put Aldborough into bat. It proved a good toss to win as the impressive Joe Norman removed both Aldborough openers and Cannon, coming in at three, with quick, straight balls which kept low on a wicket which offered a huge amount to the bowlers. This bought skipper Holroyd to the crease and he began a defiant resistance despite losing Smith with the score suddenly at 37-4 after 16 overs. Holroyd was joined by Ash and these two Aldborough stalwarts batted with immense focus and skill sharing a partnership of 54 before Ash (21) fell to Sayer. With Ash followed closely by Holroyd (36) the Aldborough tail added a further 26 as Watton cleaned up the innings in the 39th over, bowling Aldborough out for 120. Sayer returned figures of 5-45 with a good spell of line and length bowling.
With Watton chasing a small total it was imperitive that the Aldborough bowlers used the pitch and bowled straight. An opening stand of 23 was broken as Walton bowled Parfitt and then two balls later Seguss befell the same fate. Ray Smith joined the attack and snapped up the wickets of Webster (18), J Oakey (1), Norman (15) and W Oakey (5) with some superb swing bowling. This mini collapse left Watton reeling on 50-6 after 22 overs. A stubborn partnership of 21 between Ransom and Sayer briefly looked like saving the game for Watton before Aldborough skipper Holroyd brought himself on and with a deadly spell of outswing bowling, took the remaining four wickets leaving a stunned Watton all out for just 80. Holroyd (4-7) and Smith (4-16) bowled with great control and used the pitch to their advantage while the fielders caught everything and backed the bowlers all the way to the end.
Despite the pitch, the game was played in terrific spirit and the Watton captain will be delighted that despite the defeat Watton have claimed the title and all the hard work that the senior players have put in to keep the club alive has paid off. Congratulations to all at Watton CC on a great season of cricket. Aldborough were left ruing a poor start to the season and some key rain affected games that mean a mid table finish for The Green’s despite an extraordinary end of season run which proved the potential the side have against the stronger sides in the division.
Aldborough Black Boys Man of the Match – Mark Holroyd
Aldborough v Aylsham Legion
The Green, Aldborough
Sunday 31st August
On a hot and humid afternoon skipper Cook lost the toss and unsurprisingly was asked to field. With Aldborough only managing to scrape together a team of 8 players Aylsham quickly set about building a big total. The lack of bowlers left Cook no choice but to partner veteran new ball bowler Reeve with wicketkeeper Cannon in an odd looking opening pair. Reeve’s gentle medium pacers and Cannon’s express pace was negotiated by Aylsham despite Cannon bowling Hevo with a Wasim Fatram style in-swinging porker.
Halls (79) and Major (36) batted on until part time spinner Cramp snapped up both men with his gentle off spin. The game evened out at that point and only Minns (29*) added any more real runs to the total as Aylsham posted 197-9. The highlight of the innings was Cramp taking a hat-trick of wickets which turned the game and left the devious spin bowler grinning from ear to ear as new father-in-law Fisher finally accepted him into the family on the back of this achievement.
The family theme continued into the Aldborough innings as the two men opened together and with a new found understanding were left unbeaten, as a vicious thunderstorm put pay to any thoughts of cricket for the day. It was good to see the Aylsham players taking a shower in the rainwater that fell from the roof of The Black Boys and even better to see grounds-man Botwright’s face as the stumps floated away downstream towards Thurgarton.
Later that night, as darkness fell on The Green, Barry was seen dipping his rod into the water and pulling out a 16 pound mackerel, which he took home for a good roasting.
Match Abandoned due to rain.