SPITFIRE O60 1st X1 - 2013
MATCH 12
v Leicestershire at Lutterworth, Leics
3rd September
Norfolk travelled for the third time to the Lutterworth area (twice to Lutterworth and once to Bitteswell) and came away victorious again in the 13/14 play off with the win possibly helping towards seeding in a new Cup for 2014.
Norfolk lost the toss and Leicestershire started strongly with Ashdown again finding the bat too often. Jackson balanced it all out with another frugal performance, varying his pace and remaining a constant threat to the home batters. Still Leicestershire reached 100 off 20 and then the brakes came on as Banham and Shales took over. In the end, Leicestershire were well under what they should have been, superb ground fielding from Ashdown and Hughes plus a very good in the deep helping the cause and Pearse then catching the dangerous Smith on the slog boundary.
Norfolk started very strongly with 50 off 12, when Pearse’s pad snicked the ball (on 21), was given not out, but walked as the keeper was vocally adamant it was out… No one else thought so but…
Lofthouse, new to opening, hit out on the offside and made a welcome 51, whilst Roper scored 29, to keep the score ticking over. Davies had to retire hurt on 9 and poor Lund, taking a by choice raincheck to bat low down paid the price with a first ball snick.
However, innings of the match was Liam Hughes with 56 not out backed up with Shales 24 not out to win off 44.3 balls by 6 wickets.
MATCH 11
v Buckinghamshire at Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire
20th August
Norfolk made the 150 mile journey to Farnham Royal (a luxury suburb of Slough!) and were greeted by the wicket being cut and rolled. A toss to win.
Ritchie lost and in we went. Bucks bowling was very accurate and the pacy Spindler left arm, soon accounted for an out of form John Lund. Martin Pearse 37 in 58 and Clive Bennett, 42 in 70, worked hard to take the score to 77 in the 20th, when the former was bowled. Hughes, 46 in 51, kept the score flowing, but the bowling was still tight and on his demise, the wheels somewhat fell off, with little or no attempt by the late middle order to hit out. 177-7 was never enough.
On cue, Bucks took advantage of some wayward bowling to post 45 in 8 overs and from then on the game was effectively over. Norfolk’s bowling was treated with disdain, De Caires 74 off 86 and Lynch, 72 off 79, finishing the match in 34.3 overs.
Leicestershire are now the opponents in a late bid to be placed 13/14 rather than 15/16 out of the 30 Counties involved. Next season sees Trevor Shales and Andy King entering the fray, as Norfolk desperately need a lift in the bowling department, with no new bowlers-except the consistent Bennett- since we won the Title in 2009, and the severe loss of both Battelleys, Tuck and Brown.
v Buckinghamshire at Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire
20th August
Norfolk made the 150 mile journey to Farnham Royal (a luxury suburb of Slough!) and were greeted by the wicket being cut and rolled. A toss to win.
Ritchie lost and in we went. Bucks bowling was very accurate and the pacy Spindler left arm, soon accounted for an out of form John Lund. Martin Pearse 37 in 58 and Clive Bennett, 42 in 70, worked hard to take the score to 77 in the 20th, when the former was bowled. Hughes, 46 in 51, kept the score flowing, but the bowling was still tight and on his demise, the wheels somewhat fell off, with little or no attempt by the late middle order to hit out. 177-7 was never enough.
On cue, Bucks took advantage of some wayward bowling to post 45 in 8 overs and from then on the game was effectively over. Norfolk’s bowling was treated with disdain, De Caires 74 off 86 and Lynch, 72 off 79, finishing the match in 34.3 overs.
Leicestershire are now the opponents in a late bid to be placed 13/14 rather than 15/16 out of the 30 Counties involved. Next season sees Trevor Shales and Andy King entering the fray, as Norfolk desperately need a lift in the bowling department, with no new bowlers-except the consistent Bennett- since we won the Title in 2009, and the severe loss of both Battelleys, Tuck and Brown.
MATCH 10
PLAY OFF v Surrey at Great Melton CC
13th August
National Last 16
Surrey 237-5 Mike Byford 95 Guna Galalan 57
Norfolk 147 Mike Byford 3-14
Norfolk reserved their worst ever performance for this last 16 Play Off. Their terrible fielding, admittedly on a very uneven but pleasant looking outfield, resulted in at least eight fours donated to the opposition, this from the team that pioneered the best ground fielding in the 60+ Championship. Mike Byford, mostly blocking but then unleashing his bat, scored 95 in 133 balls, with 14 fours and one six, backed up by Guna Gunalan 57 and a cameo 38 in 24 balls by David Sowe. All Norfolk’s bowlers suffered. The batting went downhill rapidly after a bright start, Lund 25, bowled by a peach, Pearse compounding his two fielding lapses by playing a shot which will live with him for a long time and Hughes perishing in similar fashion, to the very, very slow spin bowling. Clive Bennett scored 39, but Norfolk were totally out played on the day by a County that had never recorded a victory against them in 7 years previously.
MATCH 9
v Lincolnshire at Grantham
6th August
Lincolnshire 171-4 Geoff Sewell 74
Norfolk 175-3 Clive Bennett 89* Geoff Roper 59*
With a Play Off assured, Norfolk needed to win to receive a home tie.
Turgid batting by the Lincolnshire openers, allied with very poor running between the wickets, saw them well behind the clock, so that when the two best batsmen were at the crease, John Taylor and John Mountain, the latter’s name was what was required to climb, 174-4 never enough, even on a slightly unusual wicket. With Peter Spencer managing to achieve a bounce far higher than anyone else, it was a surprise when Pearse received a ball that shot along the floor and a pacy bouncer accounted for Lund that he misjudged and placed nicely in square legs hands. However, after Liam Hughes was run out, Clive Bennett’s 89* and Geoff Roper’s 59* were unconcerned at everything bowled to them and knocked off the runs required in the 40 overs.
MATCH 8
v Cambs/Hunts at St Ives
9th July
Norfolk 218-9 Martin Pearse 86
Cambs/Hunts 169-9
A must win match for a Play Off place.
A boiling hot day, and what looked like a batman’s paradise turned out to be anything but. After a run of thirties and forties, Martin Pearse returned to something of his old self, with 86, underpinning the 218-9, backed up by John Lund on 40 and Clive Bennett on 44. With Cambs on 55-0 in 15, alarm bells started to flicker, but the introduction of spinners John Nash and Clive Bennett turned the match on its head and backed up by Mike Banham and Ritchie Davies, all with 2 each, the home team fell well short on 45 overs 169-9.
MATCH 7
v Leicestershire at Tas Valley
2nd July
Leicestershire 152- Peter Smith 63 John Nash 3.32
Norfolk 156-3 Liam Hughes 56* Clive Bennett 51
Leicestershire arrived without most of their batting from the previous match 2 days previously and frankly, never looked like posting a score of any size, John Nash 3-32 and Ritchie Davies slower than slow offerings applying the final coup de grace as the visitors closed on 152 for 7.
A couple of decisions not agreed (with good reason) by a couple of the Norfolk early batsmen, gave Leicestershire a faint hope, but Clive Bennett’s 51 and Liam Hughes 56* claimed the fourth consecutive victory in 36 overs.
MATCH 6
v Leicestershire at Bitteswell
June 3rd
Norfolk 187-7 John Lund 71 Vin Desai 3-25
Leicestershire 184-8 George Fox 66 Mike Banham 3-40
Norfolk-with only 9 players due to late drop outs- travelled to Bitteswell and were inserted on a boiling hot day, saw a large opening stand of 124 in 25 overs between Lund 71 off 92 departing after running himself out. Martin Pearse 47 (off 58) soon departed, adjudged lbw and steady Leicestershire bowling restricted the nine men to 187-7.
Probably one of Norfolk’s stand out performances (ever) took place as Leicestershire always looking favourite, lost wickets at crucial times and Banham’s leg spin proved invaluable as Leicestershire fell three short in a nail biting victory for the visitors, especially after a drawn out saga of hitch hiking and detours to the M11 for the team to pick up a stranded opening bat returning from Spain.
MATCH 5
v Cambs/Hunts at Tas Valley
June 18th
Cambs/Hunts 203-9 Nick Andrews 72 Mike Banham 5-42
Norfolk 204-2 Liam Hughes 79*
The visitors on 170-3 in 39 looked on for a total circa 250 but after Nick Andrews 72 was well caught by Ron Ashdown, Mike Banham’s leg breaks saw the ball turning square, with four stumpings by Andy Broughton. The home team saw Lund (24 off 42) depart at 52 in the 16th and Martin Pearse 38 (off 53) at 103 in the 25th. Cue Liam Hughes to show his attacking range with an unbeaten 79 backed by Geoff Roper on 36* to win with 24 balls to go.
MATCH 4
v Bedfordshire at Flitwick
June 11th
Bedfordshire 176-7
Norfolk 171-3
A long journey to the lovely ground of Flitwick saw the home team only make 176-7. John Nash 2-29 and Mike Banham 3-40. Another century partnership from John Lund 63 in 82 balls and Martin Pearse 45 in 84 balls, saw the visitors on 104 in 21 overs and cruising. Clive Bennett 39 (in 42 balls) sealed the deal as Norfolk won in the 37th to record their first victory.
MATCH 3
v Suffolk at Mattishall
June 4th
Norfolk 216-6 John Lund 95
Suffolk 217-2 Neil Hames 126*
Another excellent start, 85 in 19, until Neil Hames caught Martin Pearse 43 in 48 saving a certain 6. John Lund should have gone to the bookies as he was dropped four times, but survived and hit 95 in 120 balls. Unfortunately the middle order failed to capitalize and despite Ritchie Davies 42* in 36, Norfolk only posted 216-6.
Neil Hames often scores 50’s, but historically not much more. Not today. His 126 in 137 decimated a flagging attack, only Colin Jackson 9-0-26-2 emerging with a credit, for Suffolk to inflict Norfolk’s third successive defeat.
MATCH 2
v Bedfordshire at Dereham
May 7th
Bedfordshire 210-5 Brian Ingram 92 Colin Tibbett 59
Norfolk 190 all out John Lund 68 Bob Plowman 3-18 Colin Stubbs 4-27
A bad, bad loss against a team who had only once beaten Norfolk (in 18 years!) The visitors opening partnership of 137 in 32, underpinned what should have been a much higher total, but Norfolk started well with 73 in 18, until Pearse 22 (in 57) was lbw. On 180-4 in 39, with Clive Bennett (42 in 36) on the attack, there was only one winner. That is, until Colin Stubbs who did the damage in their previous victory at Fakenham a few years ago, did it again, claiming 4 wickets in 8 balls to send the home team back into the dressing room, defeated again.
PLAY OFF v Surrey at Great Melton CC
13th August
National Last 16
Surrey 237-5 Mike Byford 95 Guna Galalan 57
Norfolk 147 Mike Byford 3-14
Norfolk reserved their worst ever performance for this last 16 Play Off. Their terrible fielding, admittedly on a very uneven but pleasant looking outfield, resulted in at least eight fours donated to the opposition, this from the team that pioneered the best ground fielding in the 60+ Championship. Mike Byford, mostly blocking but then unleashing his bat, scored 95 in 133 balls, with 14 fours and one six, backed up by Guna Gunalan 57 and a cameo 38 in 24 balls by David Sowe. All Norfolk’s bowlers suffered. The batting went downhill rapidly after a bright start, Lund 25, bowled by a peach, Pearse compounding his two fielding lapses by playing a shot which will live with him for a long time and Hughes perishing in similar fashion, to the very, very slow spin bowling. Clive Bennett scored 39, but Norfolk were totally out played on the day by a County that had never recorded a victory against them in 7 years previously.
MATCH 9
v Lincolnshire at Grantham
6th August
Lincolnshire 171-4 Geoff Sewell 74
Norfolk 175-3 Clive Bennett 89* Geoff Roper 59*
With a Play Off assured, Norfolk needed to win to receive a home tie.
Turgid batting by the Lincolnshire openers, allied with very poor running between the wickets, saw them well behind the clock, so that when the two best batsmen were at the crease, John Taylor and John Mountain, the latter’s name was what was required to climb, 174-4 never enough, even on a slightly unusual wicket. With Peter Spencer managing to achieve a bounce far higher than anyone else, it was a surprise when Pearse received a ball that shot along the floor and a pacy bouncer accounted for Lund that he misjudged and placed nicely in square legs hands. However, after Liam Hughes was run out, Clive Bennett’s 89* and Geoff Roper’s 59* were unconcerned at everything bowled to them and knocked off the runs required in the 40 overs.
MATCH 8
v Cambs/Hunts at St Ives
9th July
Norfolk 218-9 Martin Pearse 86
Cambs/Hunts 169-9
A must win match for a Play Off place.
A boiling hot day, and what looked like a batman’s paradise turned out to be anything but. After a run of thirties and forties, Martin Pearse returned to something of his old self, with 86, underpinning the 218-9, backed up by John Lund on 40 and Clive Bennett on 44. With Cambs on 55-0 in 15, alarm bells started to flicker, but the introduction of spinners John Nash and Clive Bennett turned the match on its head and backed up by Mike Banham and Ritchie Davies, all with 2 each, the home team fell well short on 45 overs 169-9.
MATCH 7
v Leicestershire at Tas Valley
2nd July
Leicestershire 152- Peter Smith 63 John Nash 3.32
Norfolk 156-3 Liam Hughes 56* Clive Bennett 51
Leicestershire arrived without most of their batting from the previous match 2 days previously and frankly, never looked like posting a score of any size, John Nash 3-32 and Ritchie Davies slower than slow offerings applying the final coup de grace as the visitors closed on 152 for 7.
A couple of decisions not agreed (with good reason) by a couple of the Norfolk early batsmen, gave Leicestershire a faint hope, but Clive Bennett’s 51 and Liam Hughes 56* claimed the fourth consecutive victory in 36 overs.
MATCH 6
v Leicestershire at Bitteswell
June 3rd
Norfolk 187-7 John Lund 71 Vin Desai 3-25
Leicestershire 184-8 George Fox 66 Mike Banham 3-40
Norfolk-with only 9 players due to late drop outs- travelled to Bitteswell and were inserted on a boiling hot day, saw a large opening stand of 124 in 25 overs between Lund 71 off 92 departing after running himself out. Martin Pearse 47 (off 58) soon departed, adjudged lbw and steady Leicestershire bowling restricted the nine men to 187-7.
Probably one of Norfolk’s stand out performances (ever) took place as Leicestershire always looking favourite, lost wickets at crucial times and Banham’s leg spin proved invaluable as Leicestershire fell three short in a nail biting victory for the visitors, especially after a drawn out saga of hitch hiking and detours to the M11 for the team to pick up a stranded opening bat returning from Spain.
MATCH 5
v Cambs/Hunts at Tas Valley
June 18th
Cambs/Hunts 203-9 Nick Andrews 72 Mike Banham 5-42
Norfolk 204-2 Liam Hughes 79*
The visitors on 170-3 in 39 looked on for a total circa 250 but after Nick Andrews 72 was well caught by Ron Ashdown, Mike Banham’s leg breaks saw the ball turning square, with four stumpings by Andy Broughton. The home team saw Lund (24 off 42) depart at 52 in the 16th and Martin Pearse 38 (off 53) at 103 in the 25th. Cue Liam Hughes to show his attacking range with an unbeaten 79 backed by Geoff Roper on 36* to win with 24 balls to go.
MATCH 4
v Bedfordshire at Flitwick
June 11th
Bedfordshire 176-7
Norfolk 171-3
A long journey to the lovely ground of Flitwick saw the home team only make 176-7. John Nash 2-29 and Mike Banham 3-40. Another century partnership from John Lund 63 in 82 balls and Martin Pearse 45 in 84 balls, saw the visitors on 104 in 21 overs and cruising. Clive Bennett 39 (in 42 balls) sealed the deal as Norfolk won in the 37th to record their first victory.
MATCH 3
v Suffolk at Mattishall
June 4th
Norfolk 216-6 John Lund 95
Suffolk 217-2 Neil Hames 126*
Another excellent start, 85 in 19, until Neil Hames caught Martin Pearse 43 in 48 saving a certain 6. John Lund should have gone to the bookies as he was dropped four times, but survived and hit 95 in 120 balls. Unfortunately the middle order failed to capitalize and despite Ritchie Davies 42* in 36, Norfolk only posted 216-6.
Neil Hames often scores 50’s, but historically not much more. Not today. His 126 in 137 decimated a flagging attack, only Colin Jackson 9-0-26-2 emerging with a credit, for Suffolk to inflict Norfolk’s third successive defeat.
MATCH 2
v Bedfordshire at Dereham
May 7th
Bedfordshire 210-5 Brian Ingram 92 Colin Tibbett 59
Norfolk 190 all out John Lund 68 Bob Plowman 3-18 Colin Stubbs 4-27
A bad, bad loss against a team who had only once beaten Norfolk (in 18 years!) The visitors opening partnership of 137 in 32, underpinned what should have been a much higher total, but Norfolk started well with 73 in 18, until Pearse 22 (in 57) was lbw. On 180-4 in 39, with Clive Bennett (42 in 36) on the attack, there was only one winner. That is, until Colin Stubbs who did the damage in their previous victory at Fakenham a few years ago, did it again, claiming 4 wickets in 8 balls to send the home team back into the dressing room, defeated again.
MATCH 1
v Suffolk at Woolpit
30th April
Norfolk 188-4 Clive Bennett 64* Ritchie Davies 51*
Suffolk 191-2 Richard Bond 67* Peter Boughton 78*
After years of dominating our near neighbours , a wake up call. Norfolk’s pedestrian batting after a lively start saw the visitors only making 188-4 on a good batting wicket at Woolpit. Ritchie Davies’ unbeaten 51 in 56 livened up the scoreline, but Suffolk were never troubled in their chase and Dick Bond 67* and Peter Boughton 78* achieved victory with 23 balls remaining.
v Suffolk at Woolpit
30th April
Norfolk 188-4 Clive Bennett 64* Ritchie Davies 51*
Suffolk 191-2 Richard Bond 67* Peter Boughton 78*
After years of dominating our near neighbours , a wake up call. Norfolk’s pedestrian batting after a lively start saw the visitors only making 188-4 on a good batting wicket at Woolpit. Ritchie Davies’ unbeaten 51 in 56 livened up the scoreline, but Suffolk were never troubled in their chase and Dick Bond 67* and Peter Boughton 78* achieved victory with 23 balls remaining.
