Cricket season under way

CROMER started 2010 with a big bang as the league campaign got under way. Both sides notched up convincing victories over Norwich and Coltishall Wanderers in a great first day of the Norfolk Alliance season.

Seamer Alex Craske, 16, made his Premier League debut and immediately stole the limelight with four wickets for just nine runs.

Craske struck as Richard Charlwood was providing the anchor role, bowling 13 overs unchanged in hot, muggy conditions for three wickets as Wanderers were bowled out for 217 at the Norton Warnes.

In reply, captain Tom Davies hit 38, Dave Turner 30, then Charlwood underlined what an all-round class act he is with a perfectly-timed 74 to see the first XI home by five wickets with seven balls to spare.

The second XI trumped their senior colleagues with an even more emphatic win at Barton Turf.

With several of their first choice side unavailable and asked to bat first on a spicy looking track, Cromer were reliant on veteran campaigner Pete Gascoyne's superb 85 to see them to 195 at tea.

It was a challenging total, but what happened next was beyond skipper Alan Lithins' expectations as new-ball pair Paul Winterbone and Billy Payne simply blew Wanderers away, both snaring five wickets as the hosts were bundled out for 71 to give Cromer the win by 124 runs.

SHERINGHAM: In Norfolk Alliance Division One a new-look Sheringham team, captained by the returning Jez Wright, started their campaign at home to newly-promoted Beccles and won by seven wickets.

Wright elected to bowl first. After struggling initially to control a swinging new ball, Lobsters' openers C Moy and Wright began building some pressure. Moy collected a deserved first wicket after an earlier chance had been spilled then struck again, before Wright cleaned bowled the other Beccles opener at 46-3 and it soon became 55-5.

Both openers rewarded with another victim each, as their fine spells continued. Moy (10-2-30-3) and Wright (11-2-32-2) had Beccles reeling and it was left to spinner J Moy to turn the screw.

After some resistance of nine overs, Moy Struck courtesy of a fine slip catch by J Hall, the first of four wickets in 12 balls for the 17-year-old as Moy ripped through the lower middle order. With Beccles only having 10 men they were bowled out for 82 in just the 29th of their allotted 50 overs. Moy finishing with fine figures of 5-2-7-4.

In reply, J Moy (4) fell lbw early on, skipper Wright joining M Spillet. The pair soon had Sheringham cruising to a comfortable victory. Wright then set about finishing the game before tea, accelerating the score nicely with a range of shots.

Wright holed out withy 11 required and even the dismissal of J Hall (1) soon after couldn't dampen the Lobsters spirits, with Spillet hitting the winning runs in the 24th over. It was a great start to the season for Sheringham who travel to Sprowston next Saturday.

Sheringham A in the West Norfolk League Division Two were forced to compete with just nine players. A young side went down by 10 wickets at Gooderstone. The Lobsters entertain local rivals Holt next, desperately hoping for better availability to improve their chances.

Beccles: RC Porter b J Wright 11, A Sydenham c J Lloyd b C Moy 14, RJ Porter c J Lloyd b C Moy 4, R Turrell lbw J Wright 7, R Clemence lbw C Moy 5, I Ruddock c J Hall b J Moy 6, N Warnes b J Moy 8, D Turrell c M Spillett b J Moy 0, D George b J Moy 2, M Fisher not out 1; extras 24. Total (9 wkts) 82.

Bowling: C Moy 10-2-30-3, J Wright 11-2-32-2, J Moy 5-2-7-4, G Youngs 3-1-11-0.

Sheringham: M Spillett not out 32, J Moy lbw D Turrell 4, J Wright c M Fisher b I Ruddock 31, J Hall c A Sydenham b I Ruddock 1, M Hudson not out 0; extras 16. Total (3 wkts) 84.

Bowling: D Turrell 12-1-40-1, M Fisher 5-0-21-0, I Ruddock 7-4-20-2.

ALDBOROUGH (127) lost by five wickets to Great Melton (12905) in Norfolk Alliance Division Four.

With Aldborough missing several key batsmen and the wicket looking lively, Melton had no hesitation in putting The Greens into bat. Ged Cooper, after struggling for seven overs, was stumped off the keeper's pads for seven.

Allan hit a number of impressive shots before being well caught at cover for 21. With Cramp and Cannon at the crease, runs were hard to come by. Cannon (8) was well caught at point and followed into the hutch by Cramp, lbw for four.

Saunders holed out for two leaving Barnard and Perry-Warnes at the wicket. Hubbard was bowling tight lines. With Barnard battling hard, Perry Warnes (7) was caught at square leg. Melton introduced some spin in the form of Jim Rice. He bowled straight through also, returning 12-3-37-3. Armiger (10), Dingle (4), Barnard (24), Taylor (10) all perished, leaving Holroyd unbeaten on four: 127 all out was the result of some rash shots, sensible bowling, a lively wicket and an inexperienced top order.

Aldborough were in good spirits, fielding with intensity and bowling well. Talented youngster Godbold went early chipping a full toss to mid-off off Perry-Warnes. When Bunn pulled a muscle and had to retire followed closely by Wilson caught at extra cover by Cooper off Allan, Aldborough briefly believed.

Tormentor with the ball turned tormentor with the bat as Rice used his leg side game to nurdle the ball around and with Wood hitting some fluent shots as the other end, the scoreboard ticked on.

Wood was well caught by Cooper off Holroyd which bought Clarke to the wicket. He and Rice batted on and despite the best efforts of the Aldborough attack, the total was too low and the Melton batsmen reached it with overs to spare.

Aldborough A 174-7 beat Martham 118-10 by 56 runs in Norfolk League Division Four.

A fantastic battle between two good cricketing sides. Captain Charlie Mack lost the toss was lost Aldborough went into bat on a very wet wicket.

Swinbourne looked good until expiring for two flashing at a wide one. Mack and debutant Harry Fell batted well together but runs were not easy to come by before Mack was bowled for 19 and Fell out lbw for 14. Aldborough found themselves struggling on 49-4 when new signing Buxton came to the crease.

With some textbook drives and excellent choice of strokes he battled his way to a very well-deserved 63.

Tuthill joined him after Smith was given out lbw for five, and Tuthill too swung the bat with venom hitting a very respectable 23. Moakes and Cook for the final few overs added very valuable runs leaving Aldborough on 174-7 off their 45 overs.

Smith and Tuthill bowled some excellent overs on tight lines and Martham wereon a rather surprising 12-3. Next came a fine piece of fielding by Moakes as the youngster fired in a rocket return from the boundary, allowing keeper Nicholson to remove the bails and another wicket fell, leaving Martham on 33-5. However, some good hitting by Sayer (71) got them back on track and things began to tighten up a little with Martham getting to 87-8.

With plenty of overs in hand to get less than 100 runs Aldborough began to feel a little pressure, but Mack removed Ewing for 14 before Moakes came on to take the winning wicket.

Aylsham St Giles (21pts) beat Overstrand (3pts) by seven wickets in Norfolk League Division Two.

Aylsham invited the visitors to bat and soon had them in trouble at 12 for 2 after six overs. Overstrand rallied a little to reach 42, due mainly to an innings of 34 by Howes, supported by the surviving

opener, Parkin (20). But then Cocks joined the attack and removed Howes and another four batsmen to finish with 5-22 off 11.4 overs.

Aylsham openers Bingham (48) and Colbrooke (29no) made most of the runs supported by a late and delicate cameo by Pegg (11).

Happisburgh A went to Brisley with a number of team members unavailable, and with only 10 men.

The result of the toss was crucial. Acting skipper Corky called correctly and elected to field first on a green wicket. David Trivett and Cameron Voisey bowled tidily Cammy was rewarded with a wicket in his opening spell of 5-2-8-1.

Boundaries had to be scored via the 'aerial route' and Brisley opener Jamie Shailes clearly demonstrated this during his innings of 52 which included six sixes.

The introduction of Mashie and Voisey (senior) sparked a flurry of wickets. Voisey senior maintained a tight line and length throughout his 12 over spell of 12-2-16-3.

Jamie Shailes was quick to punish any deliveries slightly down leg-side, even though wickets continued to fall regularly at the other end. Danny Kelly was rewarded with three wickets.

Shailes was the final wicket to fall for a hard-fought 52, Brisley all out for 91.

This was a great fielding performance from the 10 men As, albeit five chances being shelled.

Blanch and Voisey (senior) started the reply. The score had reached 27 before Voisey senior was clean bowled by Steve Kay. He was followed shortly afterwards by David Trivett and Mike Reeve, who both failed to trouble the scorers.

The innings hung in the balance when Mashie walked to the crease. Another partnership was needed. A crucial fourth- wicket partnership of 31 in 17 overs (the highest of the game), appeared to be turning the game. Blanchie tried to push the game on, but holed out at mid-wicket for a hard-fought 22 and 31 runs were required off the final 10 overs.

Six runs needed from 12 balls and two from the final over.

First ball, no run (dropped catch) off Trevor. Second ball, a scrambled single on the leg side to leave one run needed with four balls left.

The third ball was bowled with Danny hitting the ball over mid-on for four and bringing the game to an end with a sense of relief with only three balls to spare.

Pick of the Brisley bowlers was Steve Kay with impressive figures of 12-5-11-3.

MoM: Richard Voisey.

Bradfield A amassed a total of 237-7 away at Topcroft.

Topcroft drew first blood as skipper Amies gloved a ferocious delivery through to the keeper in the first over. Opener J Hewetson along with S Kimber negotiated a tricky opening period to put Bradfield in a strong position. Kimber soon reached his half century and looked well set only to be dismissed by a catch close to the boundary having made 82. Another big innings came from E Locke again well supported by Hewetson whose stylish innings came to a close on 42, pushing the total towards 200.

Contributions from M Seago and L Wheeler helped Locke but an unbelievable one handed catch resulted in Locke's demise on 77. With this wicket came a declaration.

Topcroft made a slow watchful start to their innings TJ Wiseman and M Seago bowling tight lines. Both bowlers took a wicket apiece. E Locke claimed two dismissals in his first three overs. For Topcroft, Razzaq scored quickly but he too fell to Locke as L Wheeler took a superb catch close to the boundary.

Introducing N Bartholomew again brought Bradfield immediate results, two wickets. Needing one wicket for vicory leg spinner N Hewetson replaced Locke and with a classic delivery bowled Adcock. For his 77 runs and three wickets E Locke was the East Coast Group Man of the Match.

Bradfield: J Amies c I Holmes b J Baldwin 0, J Hewetson c R Adcock b R Adcock 42, S Kimber c M Baldwin b M Kingston 82, K Register c J Rhodes b M Kingston 0, E Locke c J Rhodes b J Baldwin 77, M Seago c R Adcock b V Razzaq 9, N Bartholomew lbw J Baidwin 0, L Wheeler not out 8; extras 19. Total 237-7.

Bowling: J Baldwin 10.3-1-51-3, V Razzaq 7-0-46-1, R Adcock 8-0-51-1, T Mattocks 7-0-22-0, M Kingston 6-1-13-2, M Baldwin 5-0-40-0.

Topcroft: M Baldwin c S Kimber b T J Wiseman 6, D Alexander c J Amies b M Seago 4, J Rhodes b E Locke 0, V Razzaq c L Wheeler b E Locke 24, T Mattocks b E Locke 0, R Adcock b N Hewetson 18, I Holmes run out 0, M Baldwin b N Bartholomew 0, M Kingston b N Bartholomew 1, M Nobbs not out 0; extras 23. Total 76 all out.

Bowling: T Wiseman 7-2-10-1, M Seago 6-1-17-1, E Locke 5-2-14-3, A Johnson 3-0-11-0, N Bartholomew 4-1-9-2, N Hewetson 1.4-0-6-1.

HAPPISBURGH hosted Rackheath who elected to field first.

I Andrews and R Huckle made a solid start playing their shots on a difficult wicket. R Huckle (15) was bowled. R Breeze with Andrews took the score to just short of 100 before Andrews (38) was bowled.

The runs continued to tick along when the fall of Catchpole (15) brought a wobble to the middle order. Breeze (38) fell shortly after, following with R Raven (0) and C Allen (5). M Woolston (35no) and D Jeary (29) pulled the innings together, Happisburgh making 203-8.

R Huckle and W Catchpole bowled tightly and picked up an early wicket. C Peck, D Jeary and C Wilson all picked up wickets regularly but Rackheath continued to play their big shots. At 145-6 the game could have gone either way even with the shape and lively fielding of Happisburgh, R Huckle made the breakthrough with his last ball of his spell.

The last few overs needed to be tight and with W Catchpole coming back on, P Dennis taking the pace of the ball off the other end the match took a major turn for Happisburgh. P Dennis was consistently beating the bat and picking up the wickets with help from sharp wicket keeping from C Allen or finishing them off himself finishing with figures of 3-1-9-3.

W Catchpole (9.5-1-27-3) finished Rackheaths innings on 176 resulting in a Happisburgh win. MoM: M Woolston.