Martin Pearse strikes another boundary for Norfolk Over 60's first XI
Over 60 1st XI Match Reports for 2015
April 28 v Northants H Old Buckenham. Lost by 6 wickets
May 5 v Essex A Halstead. Lost by 9 wickets
12 v Leics A Market Harborough Won by 7 wickets
19 v Beds A Potton Postponed-weather
26 v Warwicks H Old Buckenham Won by 8 wickets
June 2 v Cambs A Chatteris Postponed-Funeral
9 v Suffolk H Tas Valley Won by 33 runs
16 v Northants A Overstone Park Lost by 49 runs
23 v Leics H Old Buckenham Won by 9 wickets
30 v Beds H Tas Valley Lost by 24 runs
July 7 v Warwicks A Nuneaton Won by 6 wickets
10 v Victoria State touring XI Old Buckenham Match Tied
14 v Cambs H Old Buckenham Postponed-weather
21 v Suffolk A Ipswich Lost by 10 runs
28 v Essex H Old Buckenham Rained Off
Aug 2 v Cambs H Old Buckenham Won by 4 wickets
Aug 4 v Cambs A Chatteris Lost by 5 wickets
11 v Beds A Potton Won by 5 wickets
18 v Essex H Old Buckenham Rained off- average points awarded
PLAY-OFFS
LAST 16
Tues 25 Sept v Yorkshire A Harrogate Lost by 134 runs
Seevent Over 60 1st X1 Play Offs-Last 16
Norfolk v Yorkshire Harrogate – August 25th
Norfolk travelled North with a reasonably strong team considering. Captain Andy King was on holiday and Andy Mack injured, with Trevor Shales as Captain on the day. Norfolk won the toss and installed the home side on a dampish track at the County Ground with a very, very short 40 boundary – with the wind!. It seemed a premeditated ‘calcule’ and clever. !!!
Initially Yorkshire were very circumspect as Trevor Shales and Colin Jackson restricted them to 31 off 15. However, the rest of the bowling was very below their standard and after Miles Rawlings had batted 30 balls for 1, he decided enough was enough and sixes started raining down over the fielders on the leg side boundary.
Murphy Walwyn, the legendary East Bierley Professional rated the quickest opening bowler and prolific middle order bat, was initially circumspect. Then the wheels came off for Norfolk big time. Walwyn was dropped behind, a snick past slip – unluckily just moved to 2nd by the bowler- - plus 4 more catches put down on the long on/long off boundary, and his 138 not out saw the home side reach 265-5 in 3 playing hours, not acceptable for 45 overs and for O60’s.
Yorkshire scored 150 runs in the last 15 overs!!
Norfolk needed a sound start. They didn’t get one. Martin Pearse 0, John Lund 3 and Clive Bennett 1 all departed in double quick time to former National Village winner and captain in 1978, East Bierley’s Phil Taylor and only a 55 from the departing to New Zealand Dr Liam Hughes, plus 23 not out from Mike Banham saw any respectability attained---------- 131-10 all out.
Next Season the Seevent Committee will be introducing points fines for Counties who don’t achieve a minimum of 18 overs per hour, so ‘Captains’ beware! To put into context:
England 60 v Scotland 60----------- 50 overs in 2 hours 26 mins
England 60 v Australia 60---------- 80 overs in 4 hours 9 mins
However Messrs Shales Banham Pearse and Davies stayed in Harrogate and had a great night out with the Yorkshire team at Brio ...then a fire alarm at 4am, and Lundy informed MCP he had negiotiated 50% off the bill.. al least some small consolation...
Norfolk 60 v Cambridgeshire / Huntingdonshire. August 4th 2015. Chatteris
One ball, one run, one wicket gained. But a loss! How come? A wide, that why! So from walking into the play offs, one ball, one run transferred victory into loss and a sweaty week whilst we have to beat Bedfordshire next week.
Norfolk inserted on a green top at Chatteris, found Mick Douglas in deadly accurate form, but it was replacement Ian McNulty who struck first, removing John Lund for 19, Clive Bennett for 16. Martin Pearse 55, looked in prime form until a half volley was deposited at a pretty sharp rate into extra covers hands 114-3 in 31. Andy King, promoted up the order by one Andy King, batted as well as he has ever done until he was adjudged lbw to Douglas for 48. Randolf Lofthouse, darting this way and that, smashed everything through extra cover, for a typical even time 31. A required 200 only became 192-6, but after the initial bowlers paradise, a score we might have settled for.
Same scenario as Cambs/Hunts batted, Trevor Shales and Clive Bennett very difficult to score off freely. Mick Ketteridge (36), John Gilson (30) and Nick Andrews (21) all got out at what seemed crucial times and Neil Wynn ran out Stuart Unwin, the second time in 2 days he succumbed this way.
Within 78 needed off the last ten overs, Norfolk were favourites, but the bowling wasn’t as tight as before and compounding this, Ringham was missed twice for easy run outs, sharply thrown but not gathered correctly and once for stumping. He grew more confident and played his best ever innings against Norfolk, 39 not on 31. In the end, with 5 needed, it went down to the last ball, and Mr Palmer called wide... even though confusion reigned as umpire Phil Plumbly gave Douglas out...
Norfolk 60 v Cambridgeshire / Huntingdonshire. August 2nd 2015 Old Buckenham
Won by 4 wickets
A good toss to win on a very difficult wicket for batsmen. Trevor Shales caused havoc, John Gilson and Nick Andrews 6-2 and then Martin Pearse ran out Stuart Unwin for 2 after sub Robin Koniesky deflected a certain four, 12-3. A stand of 40 between Mike Ketteridge (28) and Nick Lloyd was broken, after Ketteridge smashed debut boy Harold Van Zanten to long off where Neil Wynn took the catch. Lloyd (51) and Pat Ringham 43 not out, then took Cambs/Hunts to 144-7, all four main bowlers being economical. In reply, Rodger & Andrews soon removed John Lund (3) and Clive Bennett (5) but a stand of 30 took Norfolk to 39 in 20 when Pearse departed lbw –again - 5th time - for 18. Lofthouse (16), Davies (10) kept Liam Hughes company as the home team inched towards the target. Trevor Shales arrived at 85-5 and his 19 not out and Hughes valuable 60 took Norfolk to within 2 runs before the departing flying Doctor skied one. Sweaty Betty time as Wynn missed the first three balls of the last over, but connected with the fourth. Result. Norfolk back in the play off places and if they win again on Tuesday, virtually guaranteed.
Seevent 60 1st 1X Report Norfolk 60 v Suffolk July 21st 2015 Ipswich CC
A bad loss by 10 runs could cost Norfolk the fourth place in the race for the play-offs, although both Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire/Huntingdonshire lost by similar margins.
Suffolk batted first and never really looked like they would cut loose at any time.. John Spaxman bowled well, but Colin Jackson wasn’t quite so frugal, as usual, and was in an injury mood... Trevor Shales and Clive Bennett both kept everything in check, 9-0-31-2, 9-0-32-0, but the wickets came from Mike Banham, but also some misfields and drops,9-0-63-0. Eventually Dick Bond ran out of luck, 69 in 89, stumped by Lofthouse and Suffolk totalled 206-6 when, if all the catches and chances had been taken, it would have been circa 170.
Norfolk never seem to win unless the openers start well and with the score at 48-3 in 14, Pearse lbw 6, Lund well caught 26 and an untypical Bennett slog 12-------- amazing , Clive slogging,must be a late mid life crisis-------- , the outlook was not rosy...
However, Randolf Lofthouse maxed together with John Spaxman (after Davies/Shales had departed) and these two took the score to 128-6, before Lofthouse was caught by the keeper. With 12 needed off the last over, Spaxman’s very good innings, and his top score for Norfolk, ended on 61, Jackson unfortunately failed to connect, Downham style, first ball and Mike Banham was run out for a nearly match winning 21. Oh dear! So close but yet so far.
Martin Pearse
Seevent 60 1st 1X Report Norfolk 60 v Victoria 60 July 9th 2015 Old Buckenham
Norfolk 60, with 6 regular 1st X1 players, welcomed the travelling Victorian O60 side to the legendary stunning ground at Old Buckenham where the Australian Test Team played in1921.
Victoria were given the chance to bat and soon found themselves in a desperate state as Dave Le Moir, whose run up is in direct contrast to his very slow benders, took 3 wickets in his first 8 balls. With the score at 40-5, stand in skipper Trevor Shales put on the Over 70 opening bowler David Gale, but he too was miserly.
Some ‘spin’ was introduced, but Bill Wigmore, after being dropped, became more confident. So much so that, when runs started to accumulate and the first choice bowlers came in, Victoria were on a roll. With Wigmore having to retire at 40 and Gordon Cowling taking a liking to Shales, he too had to retire at 40. Eventually Lindsay Fisher, 23 not out, John Moore 18 off one Shales over, and Wigmore 53, made uncomfortable reading, 206-8 in 40. Not easy at all when batters have to retire at 40.
Plus the Norfolk fielders were out in the sun for 2 hours 50 minutes.......
Norfolk started badly against the accurate seamer attack of Gordon Cowling and Guy Eastwood, losing John Lund (13) and Richie Davies (1) to stunning slip catcher by David Green. Kingsley Elliff biffed 16, but Martin Pearse was untroubled together with Alan Pulsford.
Both had to retire at 40, as did Trevor Shales, as Norfolk kept ahead of the rate. John Spaxman scored 18, but wickets falling and a lull in scoring meant Norfolk needed 9 off the last over with Mike Banham on strike and Martin Pearse returning to the wicket.
With 2 needed off the last ball, Pearse could only manage a single, so the match ended on a tie – fitting for the occasion.
Presentations were made to the Victorians with photos of the 1921 match, a Blue Fosters Ball to Bill Wigmore and Martin Pearse was presented with a Victorian Shirt as the Norfolk batter Man of the Match with David Le Moir a Victoria Cap as Bowler Man of the Match.
Martin Pearse
Seevent 60 1st XI Report Norfolk v Warwickshire July 7th 2015 Nuneaton
Warwickshire inserted on a rain effected wicket at Nuneaton (90 minutes off early on), scraped through to 147 all out in their 42 overs, Rob Ball 22 and Richard Heath 24 the only batters to worry the visitors. Clive Bennett bowled impeccably 9-3-13-1, Jacko was happier than usual, 9-2-22-1 a wicket!! And Mike Banham foxed the late order 8-0-37-3.
Warwick were quite happy early on as Andy King 5, Clive Bennett 12, Randy Lofthouse 5, all departed to Rob Ball and the noisy Harold Turner (we heard every swear word in a thick Brummie accent,) but Martin Pearse went well past 9,000 runs for Norfolk 1st X1 60/50/70 with an unbeaten 72 together with his travelling room mate, Prince of Shales, 24 not out in 36.5 overs. 22 points.
Norfolk v Northamptonshire. June 16th 2015. Overstone
Northamptonshire, missing Chris Thomas and Ray Swann, elected to bat and Ace Edwards mowed the ball over the infield for 43 in 57. Their batting was steady with England seamer Dave Pegg, the quickest with 23 in 18 until he was run out. Leading bowlers were Trevor Shales 3-34 and Clive Bennett 2-76.
Norfolk just didn’t feature after John Lund chased a wide delivery and was brilliantly caught and Martin Pearse given a 4 ball full toss somehow gently placed it in mid wicket’s hands. Clive Bennett eased to 47 and opening bowler Colin Jackson showed the spectators his full range of shots in his top score of 37 not out. However, the third batting point was not attempted, , with the total finalising on 165-9, not a good day.
It seems now that we are fighting for fourth place with Warwickshire, Suffolk and Bedfordshire our challengers. Unless we beat Cambs/Hunts home and away as well.
Martin Pearse
Norfolk v Suffolk June 9th 2015. Tas Valley
Norfolk inserted on a hardish looking wicket, found life very variable at first, but long standing openers Martin Pearse and John Lund (59) still managed to put on 98 before Lund was caught off left arm spinner Burt. Pearse (37) promptly played on sweeping and Dickie Sayers (2) went as well 98-0, 103.3. Clive Bennett is in prime form at present, letting his bat do the talking. (Clive doesn’t talk much). Randolf Lofthouse ran well and his 36 in 31 helped the score along. Eventually, Bennett’s 83 unbeaten in 78 balls and Richie Davies with his new second hand Uzi sub machine bat (11 in 9) saw the score to a reasonable 235-4. Burt bowled very well for his 2-28, extracting a lot of bounce
Suffolk started brightly with Andrew Gallant so far having a personal season to remember. Question is, can he do it year after year? Anyway, he looked as if he could win the match on his own and his 61 at 115.2 meant the visitors were well on it. But a stunning catch high to his left by John Lund, made it 115-3 and then the final nail was when Andy King, coming back to the old Andy King of old, snaffled him for 33. Apart from a spirited 26 in 20 by Steve Bulger, the game was concluded by Mike Banham turning the ball square for 1 run conceded. In his one over!
Martin Pearse
Norfolk 60 v Warwickshire 60. May 26th 2015. Old Buckenham
Warwickshire, winning the toss, looked all at sea, with opener Day playing a truly stupid shot in the fifth over to Jackson. Heath, on 4 was missed on a stumping chance and although looking like getting out at any time, managed to make 50, mainly by booming straight drives. Spaxman, at the other end, bowled very well with 9-4-17-2 as Warwickshire managed to somehow reach 176-8 with the burden of one off captaincy weighing heavily on the normally measly Shales, who actually went for the highest runs debited – 44. Norfolk lost Pearse (4) and Lund (25) to the looser of the two openers, but Dickie Sayers on his debut, and Clive Bennett edged their way towards 176 and both were in control on 68 not out each, Sayers of 111, Bennett of 77 as the home team won in 42.3.
Norfolk 60 v Leicestershire 60. May 12th 2015. Market Harborough
Leicestershire, who won both their matches against Norfolk last year in unusual circumstances, found lady-luck not always looking down on them quite so benignly.
Winning the toss, Leicestershire started well but from 52-0 soon became 90-5 as England bowler Trevor Shales when introduced into the attack, tightened up considerably after a loose opening spell. Shales, 9-1-25-2 and Clive Bennett 9-3-27-0, put the noose around the Leicestershire neck but Ray Ganatra feasted on the pace of John Spaxman and spin of Andy King as 74 came in the last eight overs to put the home side on 195-6.
Norfolk started brightly, but Pearse, looking very confident , was allegedly bowled by Redfearn, a slight’’ suspicion’’ on the well known keeper from Leicestershire that the gloves might have flicked the bails backwards ?!....... the batter was very surprised...
Always controversy v Leicestershire as their batsman Harry Green refused to go a couple of years ago in a similar situation at Bitteswell...!!
Lund, not his usual self, soon followed and Roper went without scoring, Leicestershire on the hunt for a third victory. However, Clive Bennett and Randy Lofthouse dug in and the longer the game progressed, the more fluent they became and in the end, both unbeaten in a great partnership of 156, Bennett on 80 and Lofthouse on 72. A great win
Martin Pearse
Norfolk 60 v Essex 60. May 5th 2015. Halstead.
Week 2
A truly disastrous day in the annals of Norfolk O50 and O60 cricket, the very first time a Norfolk team has even totalled a score below 115. 59 to be precise! Losing the toss contributed greatly, such was the disparity of the wicket and the outfield in the space of 2½ hours. Norfolk started well, with the bowlers obviously very difficult to face, but when Pearse hit a screamer through point and was caught brilliantly by Newman, the wheels dropped off. Lund was stupidly run out, Bennett was bowled by a deflection off his hip, Lofthouse and Roper also went to astoundingly good catches for a 25 year old, let alone a 65 year old! Wickets fell at regular intervals and 1 hour, 50 minutes and 31 overs saw Norfolk clapping Essex off. Their bowling was top notch all the way through with 9 maidens. The irony was, the loosest bowler, Ken Jones, took 5 wickets. With Amarjit Lall, looking far younger than his years, in control after a first ball off Shales’ near miss and Wright at the crease from 31-1, Bloch having been brilliantly caught one handed by Roper for 23, Essex still took 21overs to achieve their target.
Revenge will, hopefully, be extra sweet in the return fixture.
Martin Pearse
Norfolk 60 v Northamptonshire 60. April 28th 2015. Old Buckenham
Week 1
Norfolk elected to bat and started 2015 very brightly, Martin Pearse and John Lund, with over 500 runs each last season in this league, taking on England’s O60 opening bowler, still very brisk, David Pegg. With 38 on the board off 9, the League’s most economical bowler in both the ECB50 and Seevent 60, Steve Edwards, left arm slow medium, came on. Immediately bowling 3 maidens, he then shot one through Lund’s gate and Geoff Roper, after 19 balls, was run out for 0. Clive Bennett with 9 in 23 found Edwards equally difficult and Pearse 35 (off 64) went, bowled by England spinner Ray Waite, cutting well away from the stumps.
Salvation from Randolph Lofthouse who gave England spinner Rayt Swann some stick, which, take my word, does not ever happen. A very unhappy Swann grumbled away and Lofthouse’s 50 (in 47) aided by same size Richie Davies 26 in 43, took the score to 175-7.
Norfolk soon removed Swann, caught behind off Colin Jackson, his nemesis. Alan Edwards was dropped off a caught and bowled by Jackson and he stuttered to 28 in 73, an innings liable to cost his own team. However, struggling for breath, he retired. Which proved to be a godsend to his own team, as it bought to the crease Dave Ingham..... At the other end, Chris Thomas, 45 off 62, was stumped off Trevor Shales, 95-3. Pegg was dropped second ball off an extremely hard chance...
However, Norfolk’s costly l old problem of consistency in the bowling emerged again, with 27 overs of Jackson 27-1, Shales 31-2, Bennett 21-0, all matchwinners in terms of expediency... Unfortunately the other 15 overs went for 91, with 74 year old David Ingham sealing the deal with 26 off 2 overs at the short boundary end for Northants to win by 6 wickets in the 41st over.
Andy Mack and Dickie Sayers are both soon available and will make places very competitive.
Martin Pearse
