GREAT Yarmouth opened up their Norfolk League Division One campaign with a comfortable nine-wicket win at Hales & Loddon A.

Yarmouth asked the home side to bat first in extremely blustery conditions.

The Yarmouth new-ball pairing of Ellis and Vickers started tightly. The opening overs were more a case of crease occupation than run scoring with extras leading the way during the first nine overs.

The pressure told in the 10th over when the first boundary from the bat was immediately followed by the opening wicket with Vickers bowling Lindsey (10).

Baker (57) was soon into his stride, playing a classic captain’s innings. Given dogged support by Riseborough (7) the home skipper saw his side past the 50 mark before Noakes ended Baker’s long vigil.

Noakes (3-50) struck again in his next over before Baker and Debenham again steadied the ship taking the score up to the 90s. Oxborough broke the partnership when he bowled Debenham (11) and the returning Ellis (1-22) also struck before Oxborough (2-41) got the big prize, bowling Baker.

Shales (23 not out) marshalled the tail with Noakes and Vickers (3-24) only narrowly missing out on removing the tail and claiming maximum bowling points.

Hales & Loddon closed on 151-9 and special credit goes to keeper Nathan Derry, doing an outstanding job coping with some indifferent bounce.

Sole and Fitzsimmons got the Yarmouth innings off to a flyer with 30 runs coming from the first four overs.

Some order was then restored as three successive maidens followed before Fitzsimmons (17) was undone by an unplayable delivery that cut back and barely left the floor.

Hak joined Sole and the pair took no chances as they built the match-winning partnership.

The introduction of Shales (0-25) slowed the scoring rate but with runs coming freely at the other end there was no need to take chances against the veteran bowler.

The pair gave only two chances, Sole dropped off a no ball while Hak nearly broke the bowler’s hand with a bullet of a return catch.

The victory target was reached in the 40th over with Hak 75 not out and Sole 44 not out.

Apollo Tavern Man of the Match: Steven Hak 75 no.

Champagne Moment: Steven Hak hitting a straight six, the only one of the match, into the gale.

Hales & Loddon A: M Lindsey b Vickers 10, J Riseborough b Noakes 7, A Baker b Oxborough 57, E Mead b Noakes 0, D Debenham b Oxborough 11, J Cook b Ellis 0, T Shales not out 23, A Beaumont c-b Noakes 6, A Aldred b Vickers 2, J Curtis b Vickers 0, L White not out 10; extras 25. Total 151-9. Bowling: Ellis 12-3-22-1, Vickers 11-2-24-3, Noakes 11-1-50-3, Oxborough 11-1-41-2.

Great Yarmouth: M Sole not out 44, L Fitzsimmons b White 17, S Hak not out 75; extras 18. Total 154-1.

Bowling: White 8-3-23-1, Curtis 10.2-2-50-0, Shales 12-5-25-0, Aldred 5-0-26-0, Beaumont 4-0-18-0.