ECB O50 1st X1 - 2013
END OF SEASON REPORT - 2013
The Season’s conclusion.
In 2013 it was envisaged a whole host of new names would be on the team sheet. But it was not to be. A combination of illness, lack of fitness or mobility and unavailability meant we saw only 2 games from Kevin Cooper and none from Steve Tate, Steve Rowe, Paul Newman, John Whitehead, Micky Pigott, Galton Blackiston, Tony Aspin, Peter Allen and one or two others. As it was, Martin Pearse, who had initially said he would drop down for Mark Lester, was called upon in his 18th season and John Lund, also not expected to play, both top of the run charts! Dickie Sayers and Peter Coote were both injured for the majority, so with only three established run scorers, life became difficult. The bowling never came good, too much relying on the shoulders of the stand out bowlers Mark Lester and Trevor Shales. Ady Gilbert did well when he joined the team but 2 wins and 4 losses were a fair analysis of a transient team. New names for 2014 include Steve Goldsmith, Mark Tipping and Steve Bidwell. Let us hope availability becomes easier!
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REVIEW - 2013
15th July
v Bedfordshire at Dunstable
Norfolk 218-7 Andy Gregory 90 Martin Pearse 53
Bedfordshire 219-3 Malcolm Ling 90* Andy Garratt 74*
Again, must win, but not to be. Lund 18 (in 38) went in the ninth over on 37, but a stand of 103 between Martin Pearse (off 76) and Andy Gregory 90 (off 98) put the visitors well on course for 250+ when Pearse was stumped off a leg side wide for 53 in the 30th over, Norfolk were unable to capitalize, relying on Gregory. Eventually the latter was out losing the strike and Norfolk totaled 218-7.
The Bedfordshire opener, Jeremy Page, prolific with an average of over 100, fell virtually immediately to the wiles of Trevor Shales, but a crucial drop off Ling when on 0, saw him hit 90 unbeaten, with Andy Garratt 74* to put Norfolk out of the Play Offs.
10th July
v Huntingdonshire at Ingham
Norfolk 158-9
Huntingdonshire 159-2 Bob Milne 86 Nick Andrews 58
A must win match, with a disastrous result. Norfolk, inserted, saw Lund 6 (off 23) out trying to hook the pacy Gillett. Pearse 24 ( off 40) was out at 51 for 2 in the 14th, but a mid order collapse saw the Huntingdonshire bowling well on top and eventually nick Asken 27 (off 66) and Andy King 22 (off 35) saw the home team to 158-9. No problem for Hunter who cruised through, only Andy Gilbert 9-5-12-0 being on the plus side, until Kevin Cooper entered the fray and took the two late wickets.
3rd July
v Leicestershire at Lutterworth
Norfolk 222-3 Martin Pearse 105* John Lund 57
Leicestershire 226-4 Craig Hendry 93 Jon Pook 73*
A crucial must win match saw defeat snatched from the jaws of victory by some amazing hitting by Craig Hendry. The Leicestershire attack was very pacy, especially the late comer Andy Stovell, on a green top at Lutterworth. However, John Lund (57 off 80) and Martin Pearse (in his 199th County match and his 18th season in the ECB 50) put on 98 from 25, before Lund was caught off spinner Jackson. Pearse reprieved on 44 when adjudged caught on the boundary edge, promptly hit his last 50 in 36 balls to bring up his century. Ritchie Davies was unbeaten on 21 in 23 balls.
Leicestershire were well behind with 61-3 off 20 when Craig Hendry entered the fray. Six foot seven and weighing 18 stone, he certainly didn’t play scrum half. It took him 17 balls to get off the mark, surviving a sharp chance and then he unleashed a ferocious barrage of six hitting – 7 in total, despite being dropped four times. His 93 in 70 balls decimated Norfolk and the home team ran out victors in the 42nd over, no 3 Pook carrying his bat for 70 in 105 balls.
26th June
v Cambridgeshire at Clare College
Cambridgeshire 191-5
Norfolk 193-5 John Lund 73 George Pearson 3-20
Cambridgeshire batted steadily but not nearly decisive enough and their total of 191-5 was never enough.
John Lund (73) in 110 balls and Martin Pearse (39) (in 59 balls) put on 116 by the 26th over and from then on Norfolk cruised, Ian Melon 21 in 49 balls and John Briggs unbeaten 22 in 48 balls.
3 wins out of 4, need at least 4 for the Play Offs, especially as Northamptonshire forfeited there fixture donating us an ‘unwelcome’ victory.
12th June
v Suffolk at Mildenhall
Norfolk 176-6 Dickie Sayers 50 John Lund 58*
Suffolk 177-4 Colin Walters 94
Norfolk struggled against an accurate and pacy opening attack and only had 63 on the board after 20. Dickie Sayers 50 and John Lund 58 not out, took the total to 176-6, which never looked enough.
Suffolk, for many years our whipping boys, reversed status quo last year and did it again, some poor bowling at the crucial time giving them confidence. Colin Walters (94) took a massive liking to the Norfolk attack and the result was never in doubt.
22nd May
v Lincolnshire at North Runcton
Norfolk 190-5 Peter Coote 82 Jonny Briggs 58*
Lincolnshire 96 Kevin Cooper 4-16 Alan Minors 3-15
A great start to the season for a slightly new look O50’s, beating fancied Lincolnshire on a bowlers wicket at North Runcton. Peter Coote, as befits a Runcton player, underpinned the innings with a dogged 82, but the flourish Norfolk desperately needed was a blistering unbeaten 58 from John Briggs, to give Norfolk respectability, with 190-5 in their 45.
Lincolnshire started brightly, ultra confident, but totally eviscerated middle order when debutant Kevin Cooper entered the attack going from 29-0 to 41-5. End of. Newcomers Alan Minors sealed the deal with 3-15 and Andy Gregory 1-5.
