Aldborough Undone by Young Centurion
Read on for this week’s match reports…
NCL Division One
Aldborough 209 for 5 (6 pts) lost to Hardingham 210 for 3 (23 pts) by 7 wickets
A superb century and man of the match performance by Oli Howes (102 no) son of experienced cricketer Barny Goodrum (45) was the highlight of this intriguing match at Hardingham on Saturday.
Aldborough were for three quarters of the match outplayed by the hosts and responsibility rather than excuses was the tonic of the day. Batting first after being inserted Aldborough started really well. Openers Paul Reeve and Troy Allan put together a strong partnership and quickly the home sides head went down. Reeve worked the ball around well and Allan punished any width aggressively. The pair put on 128 for the first wicket and the team were set up with 17 overs t o go when Reeve (48) was undone by the bounce and chipped one up to cover. At this point the dominance of the game ended. Fell was injured without facing a ball and had to retire, Briggs despite every effort could not get the ball away and Allan (86) holed out and in the process broke his bat. Bacon was undone by a shooter and Perry-Warnes was impetuous with overs still in hand.
Hardingham, throughout this period, bowled well with Fowle returning four wickets and more importantly they fielded with great skill especially Jason Goodrum in the extra cover position. The tail wagged for Aldborough and yet again Matt Saunders played with freedom to score a breezy 28 not out. Aldborough finished some 30 runs short of a match winning total.
In reply Reeve bowling briskly with good lines had Howes and Fowle in trouble and was rewarded with the wicket of the latter caught superbly by Dingle at slip. However this was the only bright spot because for the next two hours Howes and Goodrum put on 150 to take Hardingham within touching distance.
Lady luck was not with Aldborough as Goodrum played and missed countless deliveries and edged four times through slip and gully with two of these going to hand but not sticking. However, luck was not to blame entirely. Howes batted superbly and gave no real chances and Aldborough bowled pretty dismally and fielded generally with little enthusiasm.
Dingle, usually reliable, was expensive and Perry Warnes was unthreatening and was responsible for twenty of the forty one extras with wides and no balls. With a depleted side and no one to turn to Reeve had to try and put pressure on in the field and wait for Bacon and himself to try and win the game at the end. However Aldborough’s fielders were not up to the cause with the exception of the oldest trio of Briggs, Reeve and Cook who showed the youngsters in the team the level of commitment needed.
Balls were chipped up, over throws given away and general lethargy in attacking the ball. Hampered by only ten players and this attitude from some, Hardingham were ruthless. Bacon held up an end and Reeve returned to immediately dismiss Goodrum and then Hearn. Howes rode his luck a little then set about Bacon to take the home side to victory and securing his maiden ton in league cricket.
Norfolk League Division 5
Aldborough A 222 all out (26 points) beat Rocklands A 173 all out (9 points) by 49 runs
In a hotly contested Division 5 match, Aldborugh A came out in top largely due to some fine batting from Goodly. On a good looking pitch The Green’s decided to bat only for Swinbourne to play all around a straight one off only the third ball of the match. Cannon came and went, poor shot selection his undoing, which meant that Goodly arrived to partner Mack with the score at 4 for 2. Some powerful hitting and good farming of the strike built a good platform before Goodley took off and blasted a series of boundaries to move past 50. The Rocklands attack had little answer to his unrelenting stroke play and his innings passed 100 shortly afterwards. He was eventuially undone going for one more big hit, but with 116 from 75 balls, it was a match turning performance. Mack fell soon after for a good 42 with the score at 170 for 4 after just 26 overs. Unfortunately for Aldborough the middle order could not keep up the impetus with Ash, Gallagher, Nicholson and Howett all falling cheaply. It was left to the experienced Richard Fisher to play a vital innings of 27 off 34 balls and bring the score up to a competetive 222 all out.
In reply Rocklands were keen to get going early and some lovely shots from Kruger set the scoreboard ticking staright away. With Rocklands matching and exceeding the required run rate it took a stunning pick up and throw from Mack to run out Kruger and set the game back in the balance. When May fell off the bowling of Holyoak it brought together Puttock and Newman who played with great intent in a 60 run partnership only ended by a spectacular diving catch in the deep from Ash off the spin bowling of Knight. Three more wickets fell quickly and Aldborough were on top again with Rocklands 115-6 in the 30th over. A recovery was launched by Doe and Harrison who moved the score on to 169-6 with still 6 overs to go. The return of Ash bought a phenomenal over ending Rockland’s resistance with a three wicket maiden. He followed that up by taking his 4th wicket in 7 balls with the first ball of his next over to win the game for top of the table Aldborough.
Knights Sporting Ltd Man of the Match - T Goodly
Sunday 24th May
Aldborough CC V Felthorpe CC (Friendly)
Felthorpe CC won by 10 runs
The sun was beating down on The Green and was all was set for a high scoring, fluid game of cricket; however, it didn’t quite work out like that!
Felthorpe won the toss and chose to bat, making a quick start with Hamilton and Norwell taking the score to 33 off six overs before Hamilton (21) was very well bowled by the impressive Tom Seaman. Tuthill took some tap at the other end but managed to keep his head under pressure. Reeve came on and bowled a hostile spell, removing Norwell (22) and Spicker in a disciplined performance. Leg spinner Sizeland was joined in the attack by off-spinning Knight and ‘the Spin Twins’ wreaked havoc taking five wickets between them on a turning pitch. A rearguard action from Carpenter (22) saved Felthorpe from a very low score but they still only managed 110 all out.
Cannon and Broughton opened for The Greens but the youngstyer was undone early with a fast yorker from the excellent Raynor (6-3-7-1). Cannon and Fisher batted well for a few overs before Cannon ran out his senior man with a horrible piece of calling. Cramp joined Cannon and all looked under control as Aldborough (at 43-2 off 15) looked to be cruising. Cannon lost his head at this stage and missed a straight one from Spiker to end an innings of 30. Reeve was caught behind and was quickly followed by Sizeland, Howett, Cook and Knight as the Aldborough innings capitulated. With only Cramp’s classy 38 to give Aldborough any hope, Felthorpe persevered and took the ninth and final wicket with Aldborough needing only 10 to win.