This one’s for you, Ron Dobbie
Norfolk Cricket League Division One
Aldborough 138 for 2 (24) beat Caister 134 for 10 (4) by 8 wickets.
On the weekend when Aldborough stalwart and icon Ron Dobbie passed away aged 86 the first XI continued their clinical streak by overwhelming second placed Caister with an emphatic 8 wicket win and moved within striking distance of league leaders Winterton. Read on for the full report…
Ron Dobbie who first played cricket for Aldborough in 1946 after returning from the war and held the position of secretary for 56 seasons until recently would have been impressed by the miserly bowling figures of swing bowler Jimmy Nicholls who on his return to the club turned in stats of 12-2-18-4.
Fielding first Aldborough started well with captain Paul Reeve removing his counterpart first ball and Michael Board then joined the party to have the visitors reeling at 4 for 2. The pair continued to trouble Stokes and Brown and at drinks after 15 overs Caister having lost Brown to Reeve were 36 for 3.
James Nicholls joined Kevin Bacon continued the effort and supported by some slick fielding particularly from Ben Plumb held Caister’s expected counter attack in check. Nicholls and keeper Allan kept the visitors at bay and after his excellent spell had the ‘sea-siders’ struggling at 104 for 7. Reeve and Board returned and despite some lusty blows from Fench the team score faltered to 134 all out.
In reply the result never looked in doubt. Cooper and Allan put on an excellent 83 in good time for the first wicket. Both batsmen in great form dealt with the Caister attack with confidence with Allan getting Myhill removed from the attack after only 3 overs after some huge sixes.
A brilliant catch by Johnson was the only bright spot for Caister to remove Allan for 43. Reeve and the outstanding Cooper moved the score to within striking distance before a lack of concentration saw Reeve dismissed. Bacon then arrived and within a short time had the job finished to see Aldborough home with 15 overs to spare.
KNIGHTS SPORTING LIMITED man of the match Gerard Cooper (58 not out)
Lucas Fettes Norfolk League Division 5
In a hard fought top of the table clash the toss was won by Aldborough A skipper Canon who inserted Hingham on an uneven and green wicket. It proved a good toss to win as a lively wicket restricted any stroke-play and after a decent start from openers Key (14) and Edwards (20) runs proved extremely hard to come by. Wickets were shared amongst the six bowlers with Mack picking up 4 for 12 and young debutant’s Tuthill and Bodymore both opening their Aldborough accounts. Hingham, despite some late resistance from Dicks (21), were dismissed for 102.
In reply it was always going to be a ‘backs to the wall’ effort and so it proved with Aldborough nudging and nurdling their way towards the low total. A good early burst from Mack, after losing Ash in the 4th over, was supported by Cannon as these two took the score to 62/1 off 24 overs. After Mack (32) was bowled by a shooter, Cannon (23) lost patience and flashed at a wide long hop, cutting it straight to cover. Swinbourne and Holroyd grafted well and took the score to 81/4 off 36. There then followed a collapse as good fielding built pressure and Armiger and Smith went cheaply after Swinbourne and Holroyd had perished. Only ten were scored off the next 5 overs and at the 40 over mark Aldborough A were 91/6 with just 12 required off five. The next two overs brought only two runs and Bodymore went going for a big hit leaving Tuthill and Nicholson at the crease with 10 needed off the last three overs. Key bowled a tight over with just one run taken and then Dicks’ over went for two leaving 7 to get off the last. Key bowled a wide and a no ball then the batsmen found two singles leaving 3 needed off three balls. Tuthill, on debut, chose this moment to step down the pitch and launch a massive six over the bowlers head and win the game for a jubilant Aldborough A.
Hingham CC (102/10) lost to Aldborough A (105/8) by 2 wickets
Knight’s Sporting LTD Man of the Match - Charlie Mack