Belton (25pts) beat Overstrand (6) by 107 runs in Norfolk League Division Two

Belton were looking to build on last week’s good batting performance as their skipper won the toss and decided to bat against a competitive Overstrand side.

Steve Day and Gary Warner had the task of getting Belton off to a solid start on a damp pitch and began well.

The run rate was steady with boundaries coming at regular intervals during the first few overs. As they took the score to 39, Warner (14) gloved a leg-side ball from Bailey straight to the hands of Overstrand keeper, Jackson. Adam Savoury replaced him, keen to build another partnership.

Steve Day (40) then mis-timed a sweep off the leg spinner Parkin straight to the hands of the impressive 12-year-old J Zelos.

The next three batsmen all made starts, with Adam Savoury (27), Sajid Ali (27) and Chris Cropley (40) also caught, with Amm getting two and Bailey getting the other.

Two more quick wickets fell with White and Knight both failing to trouble the scorers.

A few more runs were added at the end with Cameron Nichols getting 18. Belton finished on 193 for eight. Steve Day and Chris Cropley top scored with 40 each.

After tea Belton came out looking to go about defending the good total on a difficult batting pitch. As the Overstrand innings got under way, a wicket fell in the second over with West (0) edging the ball to third slip straight to George Savoury off the bowling of Nichols.

Things got even better for Belton when Ali Salman found the edge of N Day (6) straight to the hands Knight.

Players had to go off for a short rain break, but the Belton bowlers were straight back into their stride.

Resistance came from Overstrand’s Amm (16) and P Parkin (26), Nichols also found the edge of the bat with Cropley and Day both taking catches behind the wicket.

Salman then picked up the wicket of I Parkin (4) and Nichols got another two when he bowled both G Zelos (10) and Furlong (0). The last wicket came when Jackson (22) pulled one straight down Saj Ali’s throat.

Belton: S Day c J Zelos b I Parkin 40, G Warner c Jackson b Bailey 14, A Savoury ct West b Amm 27, S Ali c Jackson b Amm 27, C Cropley c-b Bailey 40, P White c Jackson b Amm 0, T Knight c Jackson b Amm 0, C Nichols b Bailey 18, A Salman not out 5, A Mushi not out 1; extras 21. Total 193. Bowling: W Bailey 11-3-35-3, Furlong 10-2-49-0, I Parkin 12-1-43-1, Amm 12-2-63-4.

Overstrand: N Day c Knight b Salman 6, R West c G Savoury b Nichols 0, M Amm c Day b Nichols 16, P Parkin c Cropley b Nichols 26, I Parkin b Salman 4, G Zelos b Nichols 10, D Jackson c Ali b Salman 22, C Furlong b Nichols 0, P Bailey not out 0; extras 2. Total 86. Bowling: A Salman 8 2-1-41-3, C Nichols 8-1-44-5.

Belton lost to Martham by eight runs in the Mid-Norfolk Sunday League

Belton’s trip to Martham on Sunday produced some exciting cricket along with expert batting and quality bowling from both sides.

Martham were off to a fast start as Whatnough plundered a quick 39 from only six overs before he was the first of three victims for Paul Hodds.

Hodds completed the early-order demolition when he had Beales and Silverwood caught at the wicket by Adam Savoury. Dunn and Bell contributed little to the cause, both dismissed by Chanchalani.

The lower order prospered as Hudson (59) and Ryan (48) began the fight back.

When they departed, both caught by Alex Moore, it was left to George Savour to mop up the tail.

His three quick wickets prevented Martham from getting too far away as they finished on 204 from their 40 overs.

Belton were confident of raising a challenge. But that confidence disappeared along with Wayne Goreham – expertly taken at mid-wicket for nine.

The Savourys, Adam and George, rebuilt, getting the score to 87 from 19 overs before George perished looking for the third run.

Adam’s 66 set the tone as Belton closed in on the target. A quick 10 from Callum Mordecai and 29 from Paul Hodds meant that only nine were needed from two overs.

Hodds being caught off the bowling of Silverwood put paid to that idea. With the last pair at the crease a run-out settled matters in Martham’s favour by eight runs.

Martham: A Whatmough b P Hodds 39, B Beales c A Savourh b P Hodds 4, C Silverwood c A Savoury b P Hodds 1, D Dunn lbw b H Chanchalani 3, E Bell st A Savoury b H Chanchalani 4, F Randall c C Mordecai b R Ashling 12, G Hudson c A Moore b H Chanchalani 59, D Ryan c A Moore b G Savoury 48, G Jake c R Ashling b G Savoury 3, P Ulrich c W Goreham b G Savoury 0, A Sayer not out 14; extras 7. Total 204. Bowling: P Hodds 6-0-22-3. H Chanchalani 7.3-0-54-3, W Ladmore 4-0-23-0, R Ashling 6-0-33-1, W Goreham 1-0-18-0, G Savoury 6-0-29-3, A Moore 3-0-10-0.

Belton: W Goreham c B Beales b G Jake 9, A Savoury c B Beales b D Dunn 66, G Savoury run out 13, W Ladmore b C Silverwood 29, H Chanchalani c F Randall b D Dunn 8, C Mordecai c-b A Whatmough 10, A Moore b G Jake 1, R Ashling b C Silverwood 0, P Hodds c D Ryan b C Silverwood 29, S Mordecai not out 3, R Etheridge run out 0; extras 32. Total 197.

FOW: 1-11 Goreham, 2-87 G Savoury, 3-109 A Savoury, 4-121 Chanchalani, 5-140 C Mordecai, 6-150 Moore, 8-150 Ashling, 9-195 Hodds, 10-197 Etheridge.