Local cricket round-up

Rollesby entertained Drayton in Norfolk League Division One looking to get their season back on track after two successive defeats, and having lost the toss were invited to bat first.

Drayton's decision seemed justified when Mario-Ghae dismissed M Browning (4) with only nine on the board. The Drayton opening bowlers made life difficult for the Rollesby batsmen, but Duxbury and Chaney patiently waited for their chance.

This came with the introduction of the change bowlers, and the pair began to take control. The run rate began to accelerate, with the ball disappearing to all parts, Duxbury taking a more measured approach, while Chaney bludgeoned the bowlers.

After a stand of 217, Chaney fell for a belligerent career best 117 and Duxbury soon followed for a excellent 93. Rollesby lost a little momentum going into the final five overs with wickets falling in the search for runs with the final score 250-7.

Drayton's response began brightly with Breame and Wright, who survived an early half-chance, giving the visitors real hope of an unlikely victory.

With Rollesby uncharacteristically off colour in the field, the pair took the score to 10, before N Flett bowled Wright for 37. Hawes quickly followed to the spin of Duxbury for 11 to leave the visitors 134-2 and still in the hunt.

Breame began to take on control and played superbly, receiving solid support from Eggett (12) before eventually being dismissed for 112.

This dismissal was the first of three in the over, with Reeve (0) and Mario-Ghae (8) both being dismissed with the score on 200. Denny produced a cameo which continued to give the visitors hope, but eventually scoreboard pressure began to tell.

J Flett bowled Denny for 23 and then D Cook bowled Davis (0), leaving the visitors just too much to do. Drayton finished on 236-8, with Rollesby winning by 14 runs, an important victory getting the season back on track. D Cook and N Flett were the pick of the bowlers producing figures of 3-44 and 2-45 respectively.

Filby Kings Head MoM: A Chaney 117 and M Duxbury 93, a match-winning combination.

Rollesby A made the trek to Frettenham looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat. Rollesby won the toss and decided to bat first.

Openers Alan Fakes and Brian Price were looking comfortable against the Frettenham opening attack who were bowling well and not giving anything away. Having put on 55, Price (10) was the first to depart looking to up the scoring , miscuing a pull to midwicket.

Jim Catchpole and Fakes took the score to 80 before Fakes (43) was also caught, with Fuller taking both wickets to fall. Roy Websdale put on 48 runs with his partner, until Catchpole (30) was bowled by Ratledge.

This signalled a lull in the scoring and with 10 overs remaining Rollesby scored only one run in the next four overs. Websdale (28) was next to go when looking to up the tempo and Barnden (4) and Payne (0) were the other batsmen to fall. The Rollesby innings ending on a whimper at 153 for six wickets with only 30 runs coming from the last 10 overs.

In reply, Frettenham defended stoutly against some particularly hostile bowling from Websdale, who was unfortunate not to have Norton caught, having edged one skywards towards fly slip when the trap had been set. This proved to be costly as Norton went on to be the backbone of the Frettenham innings.

S Davison (14) was the first wicket to fall. After he despatched Pearce for a massive six, the veteran bowler yorked him two balls later.

Norton and Barnham put together a partnership of 87 in very quick time before Barnham (17) was enticed down the wicket by Clarke and was beaten by the flight, with Fakes carrying out a regulation stumping. Norton was being particularly harsh on anything short or wide, which the Rollesby bowlers kept feeding him. Moggen (9) was next to depart, run out going for a suicidal second run.

Frettenham reached their victory target of 154 for the loss of only three wickets to inflict another heavy defeat on Rollesby, with Phil Norton remaining undefeated on 91.

ROLLESBY sent a youthful Sunday side to Cromer and received a chastening experience.

Cromer elected to bat in perfect conditions. Openers Turner and Wright produced a masterclass, producing a 300 plus stand, with both men scoring all round the ground.

Wright was the first to be dismissed for 130, and Turner then fell agonisingly two short of his double hundred. Cromer's innings finished 359-3. Credit should go to the young Rollesby side for not letting their heads drop in spite of the onslaught, and special mention going to young Henry Barndham who bowled with encouraging control in the mayhem.

Rollesby started well with M Browning and J Payne scoring at a respectable rate before Browning fell for 14. Sparkes (0) and Simnett (0) fell soon afterwards.

G Barndham and Payne batted solidly before Payne fell for a fine 32. Skipper Cook and Barndham batted solidly, punishing anything loose. Barndham fell for 26, and Ryles for three, while Cook opened his shoulders and, regaining some lost form, smashed the ball to all parts, including the trademark reverse sweep. Rollesby's innings concluded on 170-6, with Cook finishing on 75 not out. This was a creditable performance and all should take credit for a spirited performance.

Filby Kings Head MoM: D Cook 75 not out.

WINTERTON travelled to second-placed Aldborough and came out with a tense three-wicket win to stay top of the Lucas Fettes Norfolk League Division One.

Aldborough won the toss and batted first on a good track. Their openers put on 87 thanks to Troy Allen (41) and Ged Cooper (43) but both were removed in quick succession. Captain Paul Reeve batted well to make 80 not out and help his side to 208-5 from their 45 overs.

Tom Roper with three wickets and Kevin Percival with two were Winterton's wicket takers, but they all bowled well, and some good, committed fielding kept the target achievable.

Bryn Clarke (77) and Geoff Roper (50) put on 135 for Winterton's second wicket after the early loss of Dan Crawley. Both were removed in a collapse that saw four wickets fall for nine runs.

However 27 not out from Tom Roper and 10 not out from Kevin Percival saw Winterton home for the loss of seven wickets with one ball to spare after a nervy last couple of overs.

Winterton A played Martham and it was like a Flegg High School reunion as pupils present and past and even staff played out an entertaining game in a good spirit.

After winning the toss, Lawes (11) and Spelman (38) made a steady start. This set the scene for the returning Richie Reeder to plunder the Martham attack for a well-made (70). Riding his luck with his shots often aerial, Reeder hit some elegant strokes before being run out off the penultimate ball.

A total of 185 looked good on a slow pitch, but M Becket and L Dunn got off the a flyer in response to some wayward early bowling. A Sayer (62) batted impressively along with J Abrahams (28) who managed to bat 30 overs despite giving many chances.

Winterton persevered, however, and the return of M Hambrook(4-41) proved crucial. He took three quick wickets to seal the game for the home team.

Fisherman's Return MoM: Richie Reeder for two wickets and a crucial 70.

CAISTER entertained Ketteringham Hall in Norfolk League Division One and won with three deliveries to spare.

Ketteringham won the toss and elected to bat first, but the first wicket fell in the third over, M Smith trapped lbw for four off Sims.

His next two overs produced two more wickets, Sprong and Butler, both dismissed for ducks: 10-3. R Smith and Bush set about rebuilding the innings, and the recovery score was at 51 when Myhill had R Smith caught by Sims for 22. Bush followed very quickly for 19 with the score on 53.

T Howes and Walker made good contributions with 45 and 33 respectively. Grisley and Perera added 30 for the eighth wicket, and Ketteringham Hall finished 175 all out.

Excellent bowling from Caister saw Sims, Bartram and Myhill taking three wickets apiece.

Caister's openers Stokes and Lamming started briskly with 20 in the first five overs, but with the score on 28 Stokes edged one to keeper Howes and was caught off Vincent for 12.

Rob Brown and Lamming both looked in good form. The total moved on to 42 when Lamming was bowled for 19, also by Vincent. Bush accounted for Brown on 20, all in boundary fours. Caister also managed to get themselves into a lot of trouble at 87-6.

Mark Johnson showed what his new bat was capable of, striking the ball for a fine 59 including one super straight six.

P Brown, Myhill and wicket keeper Church did not trouble the scorers, although Church was not feeling very well and under the circumstances he did very well behind the sticks.

Again it was left to Chris Bartram and Chris Tennant to see Caister home, Bartram not out 25 and Tennant not out six.

Great Yarmouth entertained Hardingham in Norfolk League Division One but their hopes of reviving their flagging batting were dashed as they fell to defeat in a low-scoring affair.

Again denied first chance to bowl on the lively Beaconsfield, Yarmouth needed a solid start to restore confidence. But a disastrous start saw their top three back in the pavilion with only one run between them and only six on the board from the opening eight overs.

The score limped to 16 before a run of five maidens saw pressure that inevitably led to another wicket.

At 17-4 at just short of the halfway point of the innings Yarmouth needed something special to avoid embarrassment. Simon Ruddick steadied the ship, despite otherwise fine shots finding fielders, and the run rate seldom rose above pedestrian.

Given good support by Kapila (9) and Harvey (9) he helped Yarmouth creep up towards treble figures. Harvey collected one in the face shortly before his dismissal which certainly gave the Hardingham batsmen some food for thought.

When Ruddick's long vigil was finally ended on 31 Yarmouth were 80-8 which rapidly became 80-9. A spirited knock from Vickers (15 not out) given canny support by Oxborough (three not out). Yarmouth managed 97-9 from their allotted 45 overs.

Staring down the barrel from the off Yarmouth knew early wickets were the key and they were nearly given the perfect start when Howes, a centurion the previous week, skied one to mid on before he was off the mark. However, the chance wasn't taken.

A fired-up Vickers got his man the next over as he edged behind. White, on his return from injury, was causing all manner of problems and was rewarded the following over as he bowled Fowle.

The pitch was still misbehaving on occasion and the ever decreasing bounce was making life difficult for the batsmen. Goodrum was looking to play the same role that Ruddick had played earlier and in the same way could only watch the carnage unfolding at the other end.

White (4-36) ripped through the middle order in the space of three overs to leave the innings teetering on the brink at 33-5. Sniffing what had seemed an unlikely victory the Yarmouth captain Fitzsimmons persisted with his opening pair. He was nearly rewarded as Vickers found the edge of Hearn's bat only for the chance to go down at third slip.

This proved the key moment as Goodrum and Hearn added 42 runs for the sixth wicket. Momentum threatened to swing back with the introduction of Oxborough and Ruddick after the drinks break. Oxborough in particular was unplayable as his seven overs cost just three runs and brought the important wicket of Hearn (22) trapped in front.

Ruddick weighed in immediately after but with Goodrum still there to guide his side home it was too little too late. Hardingham reached the victory target with just over seven overs remaining with Goodrum finishing 32 not out.

Burton Arms men of the match: Simon Ruddick for giving the bowlers a chance and John White for a massive contribution in nearly pulling it off.

Great Yarmouth A travelled to N&C Wanderers B and fell to their first defeat of the season.

The home skipper won the toss and elected to put Yarmouth in to bat, a good decision as once again Yarmouth lost a wicket in the first over with Hodds being bowled by Razza (3-23) for nought.

With the score on nought, J Hall joined G Thompson and started the recovery, although it was not easy to score on the uncut outfield. The pair added 25 before Razza bowled Thompson for seven.

Thisis became 25-3 when Hall tried to go aerial but holed out to mid off for 12 off Burrows (1-17). J Doggett and C Thompson started to get the board moving with some good running, and 30 runs were added before Doggett nicked one to slip for 14 with the score now 55-4 in the 23rd over.

Cockrill carried on in the same vain as Doggett and the score moved to 108 in the 37th over. In pursuit of quick runs Yarmouth had a collapse as 108-4 became 108-8 as Cockrill was bowled for 14, C Thompson was trapped lbw for 23, J Noakes and R Ali both caught for nought. Johnston was then caught behind for a duck.

Looking to get Yarmouth to 120 and the extra batting point, the last wicket pair of Fewkes and Combstock wagged their tails and added 24 before Fewkes was bowled with the last ball of the innings to leave Yarmouth 137 all out, a total they thought was challenging considering the outfield.

The N&C innings started well although Yarmouth were a little unfortunate as several edges found gaps in the field, Thompson (1-21) particularly unlucky as despite having an 8-1 field to bowl to the ball just would not go to hand.

Fewkes (1-20) finally made the breakthrough when he bowled Brown for 21 with the score on 35-1 in the 15th over. It was 61 before Thompson finally got reward for an excellent spell when he had Truman caught behind by Doggett for 15.

Young Sam Allen started positively, hitting six runs off his first two balls. With the game in the balance Yarmouth knew they would have to field well, but they put a few chances down and were made to pay.

The score had moved to 91 when Buttifant was stumped off Johnston for 26 in the 33rd over. Yarmouth still felt in the game with 30 runs required from seven overs, but Allen put paid to all their hopes as he smashed 21 off Cockrill's (0-40) returning over. And with Razza hitting a quick 13 the home side reached their target with five overs to spare. With the next match away at league leaders Felthorpe it is important Yarmouth improve their fielding.

Burton Arms MoM: Craig Thompson, held the innings together in the middle. Special mention to Gary Thompson whose spell of bowling should have brought more reward.

BELTON, in Norfolk League Division Two, with so many stalwarts having finally hung up their cricket boots, rebuilding continues with a freshness and vitality inevitable with so many new and young faces in the side. On a gloriously warm, sunny day, the team travelled to Aylsham where a sporting contest ensued on a well-prepared batting strip.

Aylsham had the luxury of batting against nine men for the first five overs, a car caught in summer traffic. The damage was minimal as the two Bryans notched just 18 runs in this period.

Up to full strength, Belton's bowlers began to make inroads until A Bryan and Stewart came together to accumulate a 56-run partnership in just 14 overs. The run-rate barely rose above four per over, particularly during a purple patch from Salman, who finished with fine figures of 5-27 off nine overs. The fielders applied themselves well in the hot conditions and were rewarded when Aylsham's innings finished on an insubstantial 161 for nine off their 45 overs.

Opener Day had a point to prove and went after the home side's bowling. Six boundaries flowed from his bat in his innings of 32 from 34 balls in 12 overs. For the home side, Pegg produced a sustained spell of accurate quick bowling, snaffling four wickets for 48 runs from his 12 overs.

This reduced Belton to a perilous situation of 88-6 off 21 overs with just a young-looking tail and the injured Toll to come. Sajid Ali (58 not out) and Ali Salman (33 not out) provided the answer - an unbeaten partnership of 76 in 15 overs including 12 boundaries which took the game right away from the home side. Belton crossed the finishing line with eight overs to go, their first league win of the 2009 season.

Tolly's Man of the Match: Ali Salman: 5-27 and 33 runs.

Next up, Belton v Overstrand, meet Southtown Common, 1.30pm.

Hemsby visited Loddon A. David Cossey won the toss and decided to bat.

Brett Colclough got the innings of to a rapid start taking 20 off Wells' second over. When out in the ninth over for 53, he had hit seven fours and two sixes. Rob Shepherd played a useful innings of 33, Whatmough 29 but wickets continued to fall.

When the eighth wicket fell at 170 it looked like maximum batting points would not be obtained, but a useful unbroken ninth wicket stand of 38 between Taylor and Cossey left a posted score of 208-8.

Liam Boylan removed the first four Loddon batsmen to leave them reeling at 52-4. But somehow Aldred and Wells got the home side back in contention. Eleven runs were taken off Cossey's fifth over including a six.

With Hemsby having to hit the stumps to obtain a wicket a close finish was on the cards but Taylor and Pugh bowled well at the death. A great team effort by everyone, so no man of the match.

Halvergate A entertained Hingham in Norfolk League Division Five.

Halvergate A put in a good performance over a previously unbeaten D side to pick up a win and 25 valuable points.

Hingham won the toss and asked Halvergate to bat first. In their 45 overs the Hares managed 186-6 on a dry, flat wicket. The experienced opener Ben Key top scored with 52 and there were good contributions from the young players. Will Gilder scored 36 and Chris Mills 28 whilst Tom Knapp finished on 27 not out. Hingham opening bowler J Dicks took 4-31.

After tea the Hingham batsmen made a sound start and after 24 overs were well placed on 105-4 with Debbage having taken three of the wickets to fall.

However, fine spells of bowling from Paul Ryan and Graham Harrop then reduced Hingham to 132 all out in the 37th over. Hingham's S Grearhardy scored 59 with the pick of the bowling performances being Harrop's 5-10 and Debbage's 3-46.

This week's game is away against Rocklands A.

South Walsham enjoyed another high-scoring game at the South Walsham playing field but came off second best against a strong Old Catton side.

Walsham won the toss and batted first on a dry pitch in warm conditions and openers Dave Watkins and Andy Scales batted carefully against steady Catton bowling.

Scales was first to go mis-timing a hook and caught at square leg for 13, Neil Johnson then missed a full toss and fell for nine and with the other top order batsmen failing to make 20 Walsham were in trouble at 91-6.

Kevin Gilbert and Garth Futter then came together and in typical style took on the bowlers and runs started to come at a good rate. They added 101 for the seventh wicket when Gilbert was run out for 47.

Garth Futter continued the rapid progress and by tea he had lifted the score to 227-8 off 42 overs with Futter finishing on 71 not out. With a lightening outfield and a good wicket it was a good score but Walsham knew they would have to bowl well if they were to win the game.

The Catton openers scored at a steady pace against the opening attack of Futter and Dan Scales and despite the odd scare Jones and Cooke batted confidently.

It wasn't until Richard Whiteside was brought into the attack that the breakthrough came when Futter caught Cooke on the boundary for an excellent 62. Skipper Evans kept changing the bowlers round but no more breakthroughs came until Johnson finally bowled Jones for 98.

Catton were well up with the run rate and the bowlers and fielders struggled against excellent Catton batting. Catton won by eight wickets with 17 balls to spare. A good game, but Walsham well beaten.