Green’s Off to a Flying Start!
Hello all,
An amazing weekend on The Green with both league teams recording victories to kick off this pivotal season in the club’s history. Read on for the match reports…
NORFOLK LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Aldborough 197 for 5 (25) beat Drayton 163 all out (6) by 34 runs.
On a glorious afternoon at the Green, Troy Allan starred for Aldborough with a superb unbeaten century in a tense opening day victory for the home side.
Batting first Aldborough started slowly with only eight runs being registered in the first ten overs. Foreman and Mario-Ghae bowled well however Reeve (18) and Cooper(2) exhibited the all too familiar early season rustiness. After their departure Aldborough began to build a score. Matt Saunders thumped a breezy eighteen and was dismissed at the halfway stage when the score was at 64 for 3.
Perry-Warnes joined the impressive Troy Allan whereby both calmly and methodically built a partnership. The former rotating the strike well to help Allan to go past his century. A partnership of 71 took the score to 135 with ten overs to spare. From here on in Allan took control of the strike and punished clinically loose deliveries. Well supported by Bacon and Ben Plumb the team score reached 197, which was probably some 30 runs of what was expected,but was satisfactory with the start the team had. In this Troy Allan notched his first century for the club in a chance less 97 balls including 12 fours and 5 sixes.
In reply Drayton start was very good. They took risks, attacked and rotated strike in a confident and aggressive manner. Perry-Warnes for Aldborough bowled well but Reeve and Allan were too short and wide. Catches began to be missed and Drayton looked set for a shock victory on the opening day. However the home team drew on their experience and a double bowling change at 90 for 0, saw Mark Holroyd and Kevin Bacon slow the momentum of Hawes and Wright for Drayton.
This bowling pair pinned back Drayton and over the next 14 overs the visitors added only a further 30 runs at the loss of four wickets. This opened the gate of opportunity and after a great spell of (9-1-19-1) Holroyd was replaced by Perry Warnes. The pace man struck early and was backed up by superb fielding by Bodymore, Gallager and particularly Plumb. At this stage Boro’ could smell victory. In amongst this Plumb ran out Denny and the game was beginning to rest on the shoulders of Breame for the visitors. At 153 for 6 Skipper Reeve came back into the attack and bowled Breame to all but win the game. Bacon finished with a superb 12-3-32-3, Reeve snapped up two more wickets and it was left fittingly to the Knights Sporting Limited man of the match Troy Allan to wrap up victory having Dave caught with the last ball of the innings.
Aldborough A v Halvergate A (away) Divison 5, Norfolk League
Aldborough A won by 135 runs
Aldborough A, under the new leadership of Cannon and Ash, took their team to Halvergate for the season opener. On a green wicket they were asked to bat and with debutant Bundock out early skipper Cannon was called into action in the second over. Cannon and Mack batted solidly to reach 34 before Mack was caught well off a lifting ball at first slip. The pitch was very lively and with Jones bowling well from one end it was difficult to get any momentum going. Briggs batted solidly while Cannon plucked off the loose ones and at drinks these two had taken the score on to around 100 for 2.
After drinks, Briggs returning after two years out of the game, started to score at a good rate and the two batsmen looked in control as their partnership built steadily. On 74 (off 71 balls) Cannon took on one shot too many and was clean bowled. Ash continued the good work with a breezy 20 before the Aldborough middle order batted the last ten or so overs out with some unselfish hitting and running. Briggs was eventually bowled for an excellent 53 off 66 balls in a final total of 188 – 6.
In reply Halvergate never got going and some awesome swing bowling from openers Ash and Holyoak proved too much for them. Ash bowled straight through to post figures of 12-2-13-4 while Holyoake bowled cleverly for 7-2-10-2. The Halvergate innings capitulated as change bowlers Pratt, Smith and Mack showed no mercy in dismissing them for a paltry 53.
Knight Sporting Ltd Man of the Match – Tom Ash
Friendly Match
Aldborough (206 for 3) beat Aylsham Legionnaires (71 all out) by 15 runs
For the second day running Troy Allan notched up a century and was man of the match for the North Norfolk side in this comprehensive win against neighbours and friends Aylsham Legionnaires.
Batting first Fisher and Holyoak started well with the veteran left hander scoring a typically breezy 24, Holyoak top edged a vicious Minns bouncer into his head and had to retire hurt and Allan joined Fisher. A partnership of one hundred ensued before Fisher was bowled. New comer Choudray tried to be aggressive but was bowled by Heavens before Reeve joined Allan.
With 11 fours and 4 sixes, Allan quickly moved onto his century before being dismissed giving his first chance caught and bowled by the impressive Andy Major for 101. Gallagher (3no) joined Reeve (46 no.) and the pair took the visitors score to past the two hundred mark at tea.
In reply the home side was soon reeling. Debutants Board (6-3-4-3) and Jupp (5-0-33-3) who were ably assisted by Rhino Holyoak and Seaman had the Aylsham side reeling at 35 for 8. A rear guard action from Billy Minns saw the score reach seventy with Bean at the end hitting a superb four to the delight of the crowd. Knight came on and without a further run being added took the final two wickets and Aldborough experienced a triple delight for the weekend with all three sides winning.
Friendly Match
Arcadian Casuals (186 for 10) beat Aldborough (179 for 10) by 7 runs
Aldborough entertained old friends the Casuals on Bank Holiday Monday and fell short of an exciting victory by only 7 runs.
Batting first the touring team interspersed with some guests players from Cromer and Aldborough were reeling early on at 42 for 4. Michael Board and Nick Dingle bowled very well and were ably supported from some great catching and fielding. Board bowled one excellent over at Cromer’s Oli Kimber who nicked the final ball to Reeve at slip.
Cannon and Baulk steadied the ship and picked off Tuthill, Knight and Reeve with no problems. Shore replaced Baulk and he continued in the same vein and at 163 for 6 a big score looked on the cards. However, Cannon with an impressive yet belligerent 69, was then dismissed by Board (9-2-27-5) and the visitors capitulated. The tall fast bowler then picked up his fifth wicket in only his second game for the club and with Dingle (9-0-30-3) taking a further two as well the total stumbled to 186.
In reply Minns was out for a duck but Fisher (23) and Flanagan (40) gave the home side a steady platform and the game was set at 80 for 2 at the halfway stage. At Flanagan’s dismissal the run rate dried up only seven runs in seven overs were added. Holyoak was dismissed and Fell was joined by Reeve.
Both left handers upped the rate and game began to develop in an exciting one. Fell (23) , Board (14) helped Reeve (28) keep the run rate achievable. Dingle then smashed 12 off one over before controversy prevailed. A high full toss was not called a no-ball and the resulting shot was well caught by Shore. The game then drifted beyond Aldborough, however Gallagher and Tuthill did their utmost and the game finished with the casuals the victors.
KNIGHTS SPORTING LIMITED MAN OF MATCH: Michael Board
20/20 Match
Aldborough v Nocturnes
to follow…