A GLORIOUS Saturday afternoon in May, Southtown Common resplendent in green. Much credit for this goes to the hard-working groundsmen of Great Yarmouth Borough Council for preparing the cricket pitch.

Belton (26 points) beat Horsford B (6) by 140 runs in Norfolk League Division Two.

The visitors were from Norfolk’s county ground Horsford B. Belton were asked to bat first. Toll and Day cautiously built a platform before Toll failed to connect with a full toss which cannoned into his stumps

Savoury replaced him and with Day added a further 60 runs before the keeper fell to a good catch off Scarff’s bowling. Ali (13) and Cropley (22) got starts without going on to play substantial innings.

The match-winning impetus came from Jay Patel. After a slow start he crashed the ball all around the common, 20 huge boundaries coming in his 92 before fatigue ended his crowd-pleasing performance.

Once again, Nichols provided a barn-storming finish, with 36 runs in double-quick time, Belton’s very useful total of 269-7 setting Horsford a tough task to overcome.

Clark (3-48) was the pick of the Horsford bowlers.

In reply, the visitors struggled to build any meaningful partnerships.

Excellent opening salvoes from Nichols (2-47) and Salman (2-23) caused havoc in the visitors’ dressing room before Tom Knight continued his amazing summer with three quick strikes.

Only Scarff (23) looked like stretching the Belton fielders, but when he was dismissed by an amazing reflex catch by Warner, the game was as good as up.

Hodds and Cropley chipped in with wickets as the Horsford challenge subsided to a lowly 129 all out off 33 overs.

Belton’s all-round attitude and effort included a much-improved fielding performance, justifiably earning the team maximum points for this impressive, well-deserved victory.

Next match away to Overstrand, Saturday, 2pm start.

Tolly’s Tusker MoM: Jay Patel (92 runs).

Belton: S Day c Gilbert b Scarff 26, A Toll b Buxton 5, A Savoury lbw Scarff 40, S Ali c Buxton b Gilbert 13, C Cropley b Clark 22, J Patel b Clark 92, T Knight b Clark 3, C Nichols not out 36, P Hodds not out 3; extras 29. Total (45 overs) 269-7.

Bowling: Minns 9-1-32-0, Buxton 5-0-18-1, Gilbert 10-2-49-1, Scarff 11-0-83-2, Clark 8-2-48-3, Lincoln 2-0-23-0.

Horsford B: B Collinson c Savoury b Nichols 8, A Brian c Day b Nichols 10, M Spenceley c Day b Salman 0, S Lincoln c Cropley b Salman 10, A Harvey c-b Knight 9, M Scarff c Warner b Knight 23, P Minns lbw Knight 11, M Selby c-b Hodds 18, J Buxton c Day b Hodds 12, R Clark c Nichols b Cropley 13, R Gilbert not out 0; extras 15. Total (34 overs) 129.

Bowling: Salman 9-4-23-2, Nichols 10-2-47-2, Knight 8-1-25-3, Hodds 4-1-16-2, Cropley 3-0-10-1.