Cricket: Dereham A looking for change of fortune

AFTER a frustrating few weeks of watching the rain instead of playing cricket Dereham A had high hopes for the new season as they travelled to Lowestoft for a belated start to their Alliance Division Six campaign.

Dereham took a very young and inexperienced to the coast with new captain Phil Milbourne at the helm.

In cold, very windy conditions Dereham lost the toss and were asked to bat.

They started slowly, but nevertheless assuredly, as openers Sam Widdows and Liam Cameron tried to set a platform on a damp and slow track.

A mistimed shot had Cameron back in the hut for seven, but Paul Taylor and Widdows steadied the ship and took Dereham past the 50 mark.

Lowestoft appeared to gain the upper hand as two quick wickets fell to account for Widdows (25) and Taylor (18), but the returning Chris Vargeson (31) and Matthew Cross on debut increased the scoring rate of the innings to take Dereham past the 100 mark.

Unfortunately, Cross played one too many lusty blows and was well caught in the deep for a rapid 32, whichs led to a late order collapse leaving Dereham with a slightly disappointing, but competitive, total of 151-9 after 46 overs.

Lowestoft started briskly, with the openers quick to punish the bad ball. George Pledger accounted for Paul Rice to stem the tide, but the wicket brought the game-changing player to the crease as Decoteau Junior set about the Dereham attack.

Dereham had no answer to Decoteau's powerful hitting as the batsmen took his side home in 24.2 overs with 101 not out off only 61 balls, which included five fours and eight sixes to give his side a six-wicket victory.

Dereham will feel a little hard done by as an excellent bowling and fielding display was undone by the brilliance of one batsmen. Cross was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 3-52.

Dereham will be hoping for a change of fortune this week as they host Beccles A (1pm).