Norfolk Over 60s Second XI v Bedfordshire Over 60s Second XI

at Great Melton, Thursday 16 July, 2015-07-21

Norfolk 238-8 (45 overs) beat Bedfordshire 91 all out by 147 runs

 

Batting first, Norfolk looked to set a big target, on a sunny afternoon at lovely Melton Park. This is a ground which boasts two trees within the boundary and the beautiful mellow red brick of the Hall as a backcloth to the game. It also has a well-deserved reputation for hospitality, and the two teams were not disappointed. Many thanks are due to Grenville and Laura Ireland and their various helpers

 

Ruddick decided to open with Robin Konieczny (or ‘no suggestions’ as my spell-checker refers to him), who was quickly into his stride, finding the boundary six times in a rapid 28, before being caught by the Bedfordshire skipper, Presswell, who later also caught Ireland and ran out Hunt.

 

The Bedfordshire bowlers stuck to their task as Ruddick (37) and Roper (75) and then Roper and Pulsford (eventually out for 60) moved the score forward to 171-3. Butterworth, who conceded only 30 runs in his nine overs, was the most economical and Thompson the most successful, taking 3-39 in eight overs. Roper was severe on anything short and, with wickets in hand, Pulsford accelerated towards the end. Later bastmen threw the bat, but Bedfordshire held on, running out two Norfolk players attempting marginal singles. While batting, Kingsley Elliff managed to get deep in  conversation with an opponent whom he knew well thirty years ago, but hadn’t seen since, which may explain why he was only half-way down the wicket when he was run out.

 

All thirsty work and Mrs Ireland’s splendid tea went down very well indeed.

 

Cannily, Ruddick called on the revitalised Ashdown and slow left arm Hunt, back from the delights of the French countryside, to open the bowling. As the Smirnoff adverts used to say, the effect was “shattering”, or perhaps clattering. Hunt clean bowled three; Ashdown (3-31) hit the stumps twice and had the dangerous-looking Thompson caught on the drive by Ireland. This was Ireland’s first game back after a lengthy absence through injury, and it was encouraging to see him bowl a six over spell, without apparent ill-effects. Le Moir (3-23, all bowled) gave his usual impression of an end of pier conjuror. Soon, Beds were 74-9, but the impassive Harding held firm for a stalwart 35 not out.

 

Finally, Ruddick summoned Taylor to bowl and he returned the compliment by luring left-handed batsman 11 into an injudicious fence at a classic off-break. The ball hit the edge and looped into the gleeful Ruddick’s hands. Beds 91 all out.

 

To advance further in the competition, Norfolk now need to concentrate on bearing the old enemy, Suffolk and the hope that remaining results from re-arranged games go in their favour.


Richard Taylor








Norfolk Over 60s Seconds v Herts Over 60s Seconds. Mundford Thursday 9th July 2015
 

Norfolk  216-4   Herts 177-9

 

Winning the toss, Skipper Ruddick decided to try and set a target for the opposition, who had won by 30 runs in the reverse fixture a fortnight earlier. Herts, with former England Over 60s batsman, Ted Levey, batting at six, always threaten to score lots of runs, and the feeling was that 240 would be needed at the compact Mundford ground.

 

Ruddick, opening with Pulsford on a wicket with a slight green tinge, was soon into his stride, scoring six boundaries in a stylish 40, before he was caught off a leading edge (59-1). Pulsford settled to anchor the innings, trying to give Roper the strike. Boundaries were harder to score as Herts moved fielders to the boundaries and Gelber, in particular, bowled a tight line. Eventually Roper and Pulsford worked out their running of singles very well, and they added 83 more runs before Roper (43) gave Colin Croucher the charge and was stumped (141-2).

 

With overs running out, and seeing the ball well, Pulsford lengthened his follow-through and hit several boundaries, including a six (cynical fellow team-members suggested he was just getting too tired to fancy running!). At all events, 75 more runs were added: Eliff’s straight-driven boundaries in the final couple of overs helped to ensure Norfolk momentum going into tea and a respectable, though not comfortable, 216-4, with Pulsford 76 not out.

 

This match saw the return of Ron Ashdown, for his first match of the season following injury, and Ruddick had no qualms about throwing the ball to him for the first over. Figures of 9-2-22-0 confirmed that Ron was back. His controlled length and sly away swing kept Herts’ normally hard-hitting Garside quiet. With Wynn and Le Moir bowling at the other end, Herts were kept a bit behind the required rate. Attempting to keep the scoreboard ticking with single, Garside found himself a yard short as Wynn ran him out with a direct hit (49-1).

 

Still, with Hammond, Stevenson, Nguyen, Levey and especially Graveson, who had been brutal at Langleybury, still to bat, surely Norfolk still had it all to do. Particularly as, with several bowlers unavailable, Taylor and Roper were going to have to bowl 18 overs.

 

Not for the first time, Le Moir confused the batsmen, following his long run-up with a well-flighted leg break to have Stephenson stumped by Broughton and Hammond well-caught by Wynn.

 

Wynn’s fielding was infectious. Ashdown whippeted along the boundaries; Eliff got the big throw out and a gloveless Atkinson (halfway through his six games in six days stint) fielding fifty yards further from the batsman than usual. In this match, Norfolk were more hard-nosed about boundary runners than usual. Fielders supported their bowlers, not just verbally, but by seeming more alert than in some recent games. This does wonders, especially for occasional bowlers like Taylor.

 

Whenever Herts seemed to be getting up alongside the run rate, Norfolk took a wicket. Broughton, standing up, caught Levey off Wynn. Roper (9-1-28-2, despite an Achilles injury) bowled a vital spell taking the wickets of Gelber and the dangerous Graveson in the space of a few balls.

 

With three overs to go, Ruddick breathed a sigh of relief. Though he would have to find a sixth bowler to bowl the 45th over, Herts had settled for targeting a third batting bonus point, which they duly achieved. With Norfolk and Herts one of three teams vying for the third place which might see them into the play-offs, this last bit of play could still be crucial.

 

Next, newcomers Bedfordshire, who have improved match by match and will present a sterner challenge than in the away fixture, at scenic Ickwell. Once again, the teams will have to contend with a tree in the outfield, at the picturesque Great Melton CC.

R.Taylor





Cambridge & Hunts O60s Second XI v Norfolk O60 Second XI

Chatteris Thursday  2 July 2015 

“Of course the form book can be deceptive,” Norfolk players told themselves as they drove through the fens to the match. 

“Yorkshire beat us by 10 wickets and Cambridge & Hunts have beaten Yorkshire by 7 wickets,” they thought. “They’re probably expecting an easy win, but unbeaten teams have a tendency to put pressure on themselves and can be fragile. We’ll have no such problems of that sort.” 

For those Norfolk players living on the heights of Mousehold or Mattishall, there may have been worries about acclimatising to the below sea-level ground at Chatteris. Skipper Ruddick had spent much of the week leading up to this game ‘tidying up his cellar’, and the benefits were clear to see in his elegant innings of 65.

After a season in which he has lost the bowling services of Ireland, Ashdown (injured) and Banham (limited to five overs by his call-ups to the firsts), skipper Ruddick must have thought his luck had changed in being able to field five ‘proper bowlers’ (i.e. men of experience who don’t groan inwardly when the skipper throws them the ball).

Cambridge/Hunts, batting, made a rapid and confident start. There is much to admire in their aggressive running between the wickets and, though Le Moir bowled his intelligent medley of deliveries with control, Norfolk didn’t help themselves with a series of wides. Cambs skipper Brown loves to use his feet and was soon driving powerfully on his way to 59 in 78 balls. The skipper summoned Palmer to bowl. Off his full run! He then bowled six balls which had the Norfolk fieldsmen purring: straight, good length, even a little hostile. But the gods of cricket are not being kind to Chris. Halfway through his second over, something in the hamstring area let him down. 

After finishing his over (his figures were 2overs/1maiden/2runs-both wides/0wickets), he was eventually persuaded to hobble off, at which point volunteer Supertwelfthman Perry swiftly changed and came on to give his usual whole-hearted display in the field.

In the event, Ruddick managed the 45 overs by calling on seven bowlers who between them managed to secure eight more wickets than in the earlier Cambs/Hunts match at Hockwold. Even then, the innings was not without controversy: Konieczny was removed by the umpires after bowling two beamers.

Le Moir and Saunders were the most economical bowlers and took a wicket each; Wynn and Taylor, more expensive, took two apiece. Cambridge were 236-8 at tea. The Norfolk fielding was uneven, but some was markedly better than in earlier games. Bizarrely, 21 runs were gifted in wides. Had it not been for those and a late surge by Singh, who scored 36 in 25 balls, we might have been chasing 200.

Even so, needing a little over 5 runs per over, Norfolk felt there were in a game and when Ruddick and Pulsford began brightly some dared to dream. Ruddick, in particular, found the boundary on both sides of the wicket with a succession of ‘proper cricket shots’, as a certain Yorkshireman would put it.

Talk at tea had been on the need to have 80 after 20 overs, without losing too many wickets. But as the ball got soft and the wicket slower, boundaries in particular were more difficult to come by. Cambs/Hunts unashamedly put four or five men on the boundary and bowled straight.

Ruddick went on to his fifty, eventually reaching 65 in 83 balls. The Norfolk openers were eventually parted at 83 (Pulsford 25) and thereafter batsmen got themselves out trying to force the pace. Searle was the pick of the home bowlers (2-25 in his nine overs). In the end, Palmer on one leg (aided by runners) and Wynn concentrated on batting points. In the event, Norfolk fell one short of a third batting point (174-6).

Better than the previous effort against Cambs/Hunts, who have recruited strongly since entering the competition for the first time last season.


Richard Taylor

 







Match: Bedfordshire vrs Norfolk Over 60 2nd X. Date: 28th May 2015   Venue: Ickwell

Result: Norfolk won by 9 wickets

Bedfordshire vrs Norfolk Over 60 2nd XNorfolk arrived late at beautiful Ickwell Green after a magical tour of Suffolk countryside to avoid crashes on the A14/A11.

Stand-in Skipper Mike Banham won the toss & invited Beds to bat despite being a man short & a sporting Beds side offered a sub fielder for the first 10 overs until Niel Wynn arrived. With a replanned opening attack of David Le Moir & Chris Palmer, the first 8 overs turned into chaos when Palmer was hit by the sniper hiding in the tree within the playing area. The swapping of ends by unprepared bowlers resulted in Beds getting away to 40 off the first 10 overs.  The run rate slowed as the bowlers settled. Norfolk had success when Richard Taylor ran out the opener Thompson followed by Bob Hunt removing opener Simpson caught at square leg by Alan Pulsford. Bob finished a tough stint with 1 for 40 to bring Mike Banham into the attack & at 80 for 2 at drinks, Niel Wynn was also allowed to bowl. Drinks brought success as Wynn bowled Harding , Bob Hunt caught Presswell off Banham ( splitting his finger in the process), Banham bowled Rix just 3 balls later & Wynn had Hill lbw. Beds went from 84 for 2 to 86 for 6 & the pendulum swung back to Norfolk, Resistance from Morgan & McArthur was broken by Banham bowling Morgan to finish with 3 for 31. Wynn had Ingham lbw & Richard Taylor brought on for 1 over had Morse caught by Banham. Wynn was then brought back to finish Beds off, which he duly did, first ball, bowling Barrett & Beds finished 120 all out with Wynn 4 for 9 off 6.1 overs.

The Norfolk reply was measured. Losing Richard Norman early to probably the best Beds bowler, Barrett. Alan Pulsford was joined by Geoff Roper & they slowly built the run rate, were always on target & finished off a 9 wkt victory in the 29th over with an unbeaten stand of 91. Roper having completed his half century seemed in no mind to wait for his partner as he smote successive 4’s for victory & a fine 64 not out. Pulsford again getting a big opening score remained 47 not out to take his total to 143 runs in 2015 & a healthy 47.67 average.


Mike Banham



Match: Norfolk v Cambs & Hunts Over 60's 2nd.XI.  Date: 20th. May 2015.  Venue: Hockwold CC.

Toss: Won by Cambs & Hunts.          Result: Cambs & Hunts won by 10 wkts.

With a ever changing weather forecast, we decided to go ahead with the match, as the covers had been on for nearly a week and the track was a belter.

Unfortunately, by the time the players started to arrive, the heavy clouds had rolled in and the showers had started.

The match was reduced to 40 overs per side and the Cambs & Hunts skipper, Ashley Brown, won the toss and Norfolk were inserted. The successful pairing of Pulsford and Ruddick opened up for the home side and slowly got things moving. Both opening bowlers, Gale and Buckingham, started accurately and after 10 over we were 28-0. Ruddick began to score more freely, but Pulsford became bogged down and had trouble scoring. At 20 overs we had reached 58-0!! An early tea was taken when a heavy downpour threatened proceedings, but with the covers on, play was able to resume promptly. Ruddick (49) was bowled with the score on 73, in the 25 over. Taylor (9) fell in the 30th. over. 94-2. With the introduction of Palmer (39*) the runs began to increase. Pulsford (56) fell, run out, in the 38th. over!! Wynn (4) and Elliff (1*) helped the innings along, but 165, at Hockwold, is never enough. Our innings that started at 13-59, was finally completed at 18-22!!!!!!!!

A brief break saw Skipper Brown and Hudson opening up for the visitors and we countered with our all pace attack of Wynn and LeMoir. Both bowled tightly and at 10 overs Cambs had reached 35-0. By this stage the weather had significantly improved, but the ball had become quite wet! Brown began to attack the bowling and at 20 overs the score had reached 90-0. By now both Brown (111*) and Hudson (42*) were scoring with total freedom and our under par total was passed in the 32nd. over.

Congratulations must go to Ashley Brown for a brilliant knock, 111* off 102 and to the whole Cambs & Hunts team. We were thoroughly out played!! The weather didn't help our cause, coming off a few times for rain, but we never achieved any momentum and found run-scoring difficult!!

JR.     





Match: Yorkshire v Norfolk Over 60's 2nd.XI.   Date: 7th.May 2015.   Venue: Fishlake CC.

Toss: Won by Yorkshire.    Result: Yorks won by 83 runs.

The day started, for me at least, with a quick trip to the local Polling Station to select my choice of candidate. Mother-in-Law was then quickly strapped into the passenger seat of my trusty vehicle, and we set fair for Yorkshire.

I arrived at the delightful Fishlake, having deposited M-in-L on route, to find many of my team munching heartily on a variety of performance enhancing foods. I thought to myself what a fine body of chaps we had representing Norfolk on our opening challenge of the season.

The proceedings started with the Toss, that was duly lost when I called incorrectly. However, after some good old banter with their skipper Nigel Ling, Nigel decided to bat! I was happy with that.

Before the game commenced a minutes silence was held in honour of the Yorkshire Match Manager, David Todd and our own Mike Delf, both who had past away the previous week.

Looking for inspiration from his new-ball bowlers, I opened with, new boy, Wynn and our old campaigner Bobby Hunt. It became immediately evident that we weren't playing on a shirt-front!! At 10 overs Yorks. were 30-1. At 20, 64-5. 30, 88-7. The skipper was feeling buoyant, no not bloated!!! When Yorks. were dismissed in the 41st. over for 120, we all agreed that we would have snatched at that before the start.

All our bowlers did a fine job in containing the Yorkshiremen and we grazed greedily on the fine spread of food set before us, during the break.

Our batting line-up was discussed, debated and tweaked and the openers strode out with grim purpose. Both their openers started right on the money, with some accurate, medium pace bowling, extracting more from the pitch than we had. Pulsford was first to go, pulling a shortish delivery and top edging, high to the keeper. Ruddick followed next over, shouldering arms to an expected away-swinger that nipped back off the track, trapping him in-front. 6-2!!! That so became 8-3 as Lake fell in, in the now accustom fashion, LBW.

Enough to say that wickets continued to fall at a pretty steady rate, and when LeMoir was bowled in the 27th. over, Norfolk found themselves all out. Glancing furtively at the scoreboard, we could see that we had been dismissed for a rather miserable 37.

Skipper Nigel, upon shaking my hand, first apologised for a not very good track. Then, with all the dry wit of a true Yorkshireman, added "tis a f**king long way to come for 37, John"!!!

Beers were purchased! The match discussed! The Norfolk lads collected their gear and set out on the long journey home. Not our best day. But we shall rise resplendent to fight again!!! 

JR.

     

Apr

Tues      28th         Norfolk            v              Two Counties     Mundford  Lost by 61 runs

May

Thur      07th       Yorkshire             v              Norfolk                      Fishlake            Lost by 83 runs

Thur       14th       Norfolk                v              Herts                        Mundford           Match Abandoned-rain

Wed       20th       Norfolk                v              Cambs/Hunts           Hockwold          Lost by 10 wickets

Thur       28th       Beds                   v              Norfolk                      Ickwell              Won by 9 wickets

June

Thur         4th      Norfolk O60 XI     v        Norfolk O70 XI     Hockwold      Won by 1 wicket

Thur         11th      Suffolk                   v          Norfolk                     Mildenhall        Won by 81 runs

Wed         17th      Norfolk                   v          Yorkshire                 North Runcton    Lost by 10 wickets

Thur         25th     Herts                     v           Norfolk                     Langlebury         Lost by 30 runs

July

Thur          02nd     Cambs/Hunts       v           Norfolk                    Chatteris             Lost by 62 runs

Thur          09th     Norfolk                 v           Herts                       Mundford            Won by 39 runs

Thur         16th     Norfolk                   v           Beds                       Great Melton       Won by 147 runs

Wed         22nd     Norfolk                   v           Suffolk                  Sprowston           Lost by 5 wickets

Aug
Fri           28th       Norfolk                   v          Essex  bowl Comp  Hockwold            Lost by 101 runs

Sept         
    
Wed         02nd   Two Counties      v           Norfolk                  Halstead 







Friendly Fixtures in blue

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