Greens Miss Out in Crunch Encounter
For all the weekend’s action, read on…
Lucas Fettes Norfolk League 1
Aldborough 208 for 5 (8) points lost to Winterton 211 for 7 (23)
With confidence battered and egos bruised from the previous weeks defeat at the hands of Hardingham, Boro’ entertained Winterton on the green in a top of the league clash.
Winning the toss Aldborough batted first on a sunny afternoon and a good looking pitch. The start was cautious yet measured. Cooper and Allan moved the score along without too much trouble and passed fifty in good time. The Winterton bowlers and fielders maintained their composure and began to squeeze the opening duo and the run rate dropped. Without taking risks or singles Aldborough climbed to 87 for 0 in the 26th over, which compared to the 130 for 0 from the previous week looked a little thin.
As the tempo needed to be increased both Allan (41) and Cooper (43) fell in succession leaving captain Reeve and Bacon at the crease. Bacon driving a six looked ominous but it was Reeve who took the attack to the Winterton bowlers. He was ably assisted by Bacon and later on Perry-Warnes and the score moved on at a better rate. In the last 15 overs the team score moved onward by 110 runs of which Reeve with 11 fours and 3 sixes contributed 80 not out. Aldborough finished the innings on a below par 208 for 5.
In reply Reeve struck early and the teams confidence was momentarily high. However stalwarts Roper (50) and Clarke (77) batted with belligerence but little panache and moved the score closer to the target. Aldborough persevered but heads dropped quickly - Ash looked in good form but that was transcient, Board was unable to find the right length and Dingle was out of sorts for the first time in many seasons. Bacon was also unable to break through. It was Perry-Warnes who at last made the breakthrough and in a hostile spell that leaked runs he took two important wickets. Board returned and took two more, and Reeve came back and took another and ran out Witheridge.
The scoreboard suddenly transformed. Staring at a huge defeat Boro’ were now masters of their own destiny. The task was difficult but thay had a glimmer of hope. Winterton had four overs remaining and needed 19 to win with only 3 wickets in hand. Reeve bowled a tight over, 17 required off three, then Warnes went for 9, 8 off two. Then Board bowled a tight over with only three required off the last over. Reeve (11-2-23-2) took the ball and the first three deliveries passed the edge of the bat for no runs. The field came in. Winterton took their chance on the fourth ball and ran a bye to the wicket keeper. 2 off two were required and Roper dug out a yorker that cut the infield and they ran the two they needed for an exciting yet deserved victory. Aldborough were disappointed but for the fifth match in a row had not performed to their true potential.
KNIGHTS SPORTING LTD man of the match Paul Reeve.
Lucas Fettes Norfolk League Division 5
Aldborough A (76/10) lost to Old Catton A (169/10) by 93 runs
An early warning from the opposition skipper that 200 had never been scored on their deck was initially not taken too seriously by an under strength but confident Aldborough side. On losing a vital toss Cannon was asked to put his side into the field and a long 45 overs awaited under a baking hot sun. With the top of the table side missing usual bowlers Ash, Holroyd, Holyoak and Smith it was left to Mack and Pratt to open up. Mack bowled with good energy and was rewarded with a wicket in his sixth over. Pratt, similarly, took the first wicket and an initial flurry of shots from the home side had to be reigned in as they set about consolidating a brisk start. Spinner Knight was called into action with just 12 overs bowled and he took some early tap for some loose bowling while Pratt continued on a line and length at the other end. Once Pratt had bowled out his 12 overs (12-3-32-1) untried seamer Cannon was brought into the fray with his slow medium pacers. His first two overs went for 18 but he pulled it round and started bowling accurate deliveries which eventually brought him a wicket as things started to look brighter for The Greens. Meanwhile, Knight and Mack shared duties at the other end with Mack (12-2-35-3) bowling with pace and bounce and Knight causing his usual problems with his off spin. Cannon continued, and his slow but accurate bowling frustrated the batsmen who one by one swung and missed straight balls leaving an astonished Cannon to take his first ever five wicket haul with figures of 9.2-2-46-5 and Old Catton all out for 169. With some untried players in the field the team did very well to restrict the home side to this total and all fielded with tremendous enthusiasm with special note to Paul Gallagher and Simon Thorogood who gave 100% from start to finish.
In reply Aldborough lost star batsman Mack early on leaving Cannon and Fisher to try to build a platform. The pitch was living up to its reputation and all kinds of gremlins seemed to have bedded into the grassy track. Stout resistance from Fisher was ended when he played on and from then on the Aldborough batting capitulated with only another 3 runs added by the remaining eight batsmen. Cannon, with 48, was left to rue a missed opportunity here and the loss of the top spot in the table to an unbeaten Watton side. Colley, for Old Catton, returned extraordinary figures of 10-4-7-6 with his left arm medium pacers and Old Catton celebrated a good win as the hapless Aldborough A were dismissed for a paltry 76.
Sunday May 30th - Friendly
Aldborough (111 all out) lost to Mattishall (258/3) by 147 runs
An experimental Aldborough side were well beaten by Alliance Premier League team Mattishall on Sunday in a fun but mismatched encounter. Cookie saw the potential of an Aldborough batting collapse and decided to field in sweltering conditions on a pitch wrought from the roller of The God’s.
Leo Jupp and Dave Bodymore bowled well and with maturity but were carted all around the ground by opener Cole who soon retired on 53 after just 16 overs. Knight bowled his usual spinning death-balls but was treated with similar disdain while debutant Moakes (after swapping shoes with Bodymore) managed to put in some good overs of left arm seam. Youngster Hubbard batted nicely for the opposition posting a good 53 before being undone by Broughton. With first team batsman Thacker coming to the crease it was a case of lambs to the slaughter as Cannon, Knight, Cook and Broughton were dismissed with authority into the outlying fields. Dropped catches and poor fielding didn’t help the cause as Mattishall racked up a massive 258 for 3.
In reply, Denmead (21) hit some good shots before both he and Fisher were caught out. Choudhury went for a third ball duck and only Cannon (25) offered any resistance to an average attack as the batting fell apart. It was left to a last wicket stand of 25 from Jupp (11) and Moakes (11 n/o) to add any respectability to the scorecard.
The game was played in terrific spirit and they have a lovely bar which we very much enjoyed after the game. Moakes was named man of the match on debut and ran a lap of the ground with his arse out to celebrate this momentous occasion. His behaviour was very much deplored by chairman Tim Knight and captain Mark Cook, who commented on the sheer cheek of the boy.