Allan and Reeve Roll-over Rollesby
Read on for the three match reports from the weekend…
Norfolk League Division One
Aldborough (26) 238-8 beat Rollesby 41 (5) by 197 runs
Yet another combination of outstanding batting by Troy Allan and and bowling by Paul Reeve proved to be the highlights of this resounding team to victory over Rollesby on Saturday.
Winning the toss and batting first Aldborough once again started very well with Cooper and Allan putting on 90 for the first wicket. Cooper in excellent form this year rotated the strike well and struck a number of big blows to support the measured and calculated approach from Allan. The latter played him self in nicely and was in ominous touch from early on and it was apparent he was there for the long haul.
Cooper was first to go and it was obvious that all the batsmen in the Aldborough side realised this was a day to play second fiddle to Allan and look to get him on strike as much as possible. Plumb looked in good touch and started this trend, however was out to a fluke deflection off Flett’s foot from a booming Allan drive to run him out. Plumb went to the pavilion and Flett eventually to the hospital. Reeve, Bacon, Nicholls, Saunders, Barnard, Allan and Board all came and went. But all batted intelligently and looked to give20Allan the chance to dominate.
Despite difficult batting conditions, domination was the right handers want. He moved past the fifty mark with nonchalance and maintained the team scoring rate of around six per over with selective boundaries. Although giving a couple of chances he was never phased and moved past his third league century of the season with no signs of nerves in the nineties.
As the overs were being used up he accelerated through his next 44 runs and reached 150 with a huge six to beat his previous career best of 149 earlier in the month. Eventually, tired yet extremely happy he was able to walk in with 155 not out next to his name and the team score on a very good 238 for 8.
In r eply the in form Michael Board and Paul Reeve immediately put the visitors on the backfoot. Board throughout his spell bowled with great pace and accuracy and the Rollesby players were literally unable to hit him. They fell to 9-3 when Reeve picked up two and Ben Plumb ran out the dangerous Chaney first ball. At this stage it was apparent the game was over. Reeve sensing a chance for another big haul was ruthless. With Board building pressure at one Reeve was able to attack. Wickets began to fall and Board deservedly picked up one. At the other end Nicholls caught a phenomenal catch at slip when the ball was travelling very quickly at his head. Allan snapped a couple more and Reeve cut through the Rollesby team. At 39 for 9 Rollesby managed to avoid their record low score but that joy was short lived when the impressive Henry Sayer took a superb catch at cover diving full length to a full blooded drive. This gave Reeve his seventh wicket and figures of 11.3-3-16-7.
The victory highlighted by two individual efforts was testimony to intelligent and calm cricket by Aldborough. All eleven players contributed however there was only one KNIGHTS SPORTING LTD man of the match and that was Troy Allan.
Norfolk League Division 5
Watton CC (266/10) beat Aldborough A (188/8) by 78 runs
It was always going to be a test for plucky Aldborough A as they travelled to unbeaten Watton on a gloomy, muggy day. The wicket looked to have some life in it and knowing the strength of Watton’s bowling attack Cannon asked them to bat with the hope of grabbing some early wickets. Ex-county professional, Paul Norman, had great difficulty playing Ash early on and Bodymore started well at the other end picking up the wicket of Ransom for 10. As Paul Norman started to get going with a few mighty blows Ash forced a false shot and the ball looped to Armiger on the boundary; he was unable to hold on though and Norman was into full stride. He then proceeded to demolish the Aldborough attack with an array of powerful shots to all parts of the ground. He passed 50 with the score on 70/1 and when on 60 he skied one to long off from Ash, it was the experienced and grateful hands of Ray Smith who held on to end a fantastic innings. One Norman was replaced by another (there were 5 in all playing) and Bruno did not let the family down as he proceeded to cart the bowling with some big, hefty blows. Webster fell to the excellent Smith for 27 and both Oakey and Joe Norman fell to poor shots leaving Bruno to move past his fifty and to set about the bowling of Knight with three consecutive sixes. As he went for one more, the devious bowler snared him and he was out for 95. Parfit batted well and despite Mack coming back to take 3 for 70 and Smith claiming 3 for 42 off 12 it was a devastating innings and a score of 266 looked very strong.
In reply Mack went early off the impressive Gavin Norman and Cannon fell to the same man trying to pull. This brought youngster Toby Armiger to the crease to accompany Skinner who was going well. Armiger looked good and found no problem with the short pitched bowling of Joe Norman as he serenely moved into the twenties. Skinner fell for a good 17 and after two great cut shots Nicholson also departed to leave Armiger with Smith. The youngster and the old hand took the score from 52 to 127 before Smith was bowled by Pete Norman. Armiger (55) went to his maiden fifty with a boundary and all watching stood to mark this momentous milestone for the talented young player. By this stage any thought of chasing was gone but the lads batted on to restore pride to the team and some good hitting from Tuthill (19n/o) ensured that Aldborough scored a good 188/8 and took nine bonus points from an otherwise challenging day.
Knight’s Sporting Ltd Man of the Match - Toby Armiger
Aldborough Sunday 147-9 beat Holt Rugby Club 128-8 by 21 runs
Aldborough batted first on a hot afternoon. Young opening pair T. Armiger and D.Bodymore got off to an okay start hitting a couple of good 4’s between them and running well between the stumps. Bodymore(5) was first to go bowled by Seaman, he was quickly followed by H. Sayer(4) and stand-in skipper Fisher(10). Armiger(17) made a good start but was the only one of the top order to get going. With Aldborough looking in some trouble and being 2 players short Holt kindly agreed to let opening pair Bodymore and Armiger bat again. They were soon regretting this decision as Bodymore(30) attacked the bowlers. Plumb(27no) and Armiger(10no) saw Aldborough to a reasonable total off their 25 overs.
Holt’s reply started well before Jupp bowled Hammond(10) and Moakes had Postle(14) caught. Van Poortvliet(35no) offered good resistance but wasn’t really helped by others around him. Jupp got a second wicket and Tuthill got 2 as well. Holt captain Skinner(34) came out to bat and at one stage it looked like Holt would do it but a great slower ball from Armiger bowled Skinner. Fisher, bowling the last over, got 2 wickets thanks to quick hands behind the stumps by Bodymore, who got himself two stumpings at the end and wrapped up a win for Aldborough.
Man of the match was R. Fisher for his excellent captaincy at short notice and some fantastic fielding and bowling.