THE 56th final of the Great Yarmouth Coronation Cup cricket competition was played at Acle Memorial Ground between Acle and Hales.Hales won the toss and decided to bat first.

THE 56th final of the Great Yarmouth Coronation Cup cricket competition was played at Acle Memorial Ground between Acle and Hales.

Hales won the toss and decided to bat first. The Acle opening bowlers made it hard for the batsmen to score freely, and they were soon in trouble losing wickets at frequent intervals, due to mainly poor shot selection caused by frustration.

The only real partnership in the innings came when the last pair of G Squire and the captain Steve Rowe, formerly captain of Acle, came together in the 11th over and they added 34 runs by batting sensibly and taking the total 96-9 after their 15 overs.

Rowe 22 not out, D Anderson 14 and G Squire 13 not out were the pick of the batsmen. For Acle, Murray took 3-21 in four overs and Foreman 3-27 in five.

Acle openers A Munford and P Nobbs batted with assurance, keeping the score ticking along and punishing anything lose. Although the Hales bowlers did not bowl badly, they could not get the breakthrough until the 11th over when Nobbs was run out for a good 30 with the total at 73-1.

Munford went on to complete a good 50 before he was out with only two runs required, and victory was completed in the 13th over.

The Acle captain and players received the cup and trophies from the competition sponsor Simon Tooley of S A Tooley Plumbing & Heating Ltd.

Hales received the Neville Reynolds Cup and trophies from Mrs Par Reynolds. The umpires were Trevor Jones and Geoff Roper.

Alf Tooley, on behalf of the competition, thanked the groundsman Kevin Gilbert for his usual first class preparation in producing good wickets for this and every occasion.