Cricket round-up

Bradenham 177-8 (6 pts) lost to Great Melton 180-5 (23 pts) by five wickets in Alliance Division Four

In a tough match at the picturesque Melton Park ground the visitors put up a brave fight before losing with four overs remaining. A total of 177-8 in their allotted 46 overs always looked to be 30 short of par, and so it proved.

Winning the toss Bradenham got off to their usual positive start although were rocked back when openers Ian Gibb (14) and Mike Taylor (13) both fell with the total on 27.

Tim Tucker looked good in scoring 15 as the innings slumped to 62-4 as skipper Ian Moody and Charlie Collison looked to repair the damage. On a good wicket and fast outfield both took advantage of any loose bowling and had comfortably taken the total to 114 in the 32nd over before Moody surprisingly holed out for a risk-free 37.

It was then left to Collison to bat with the tail and he did the job superbly in not only batting through the full complement of overs, when at one stage this looked in doubt but also taking the total past 175 to secure a fourth batting bonus point. He reached his first half-century for the club by hitting a four off the last ball of the innings to finish 53 not out.

Steve Watts accounted for the dangerous Wood in the third over and Martin Fox followed with the wicket of Khannal, well caught by wicket keeper Gibb. At 40-2 after 14th over Bradenham were in with a chance with Fox's opening spell of 10 overs conceding a miserly 15 runs although a crucial dropped catch off his own bowling proved costly.

Moody finally made the third breakthrough with the total 103 and when Tucker accounted for Godbold for an aggressive 60 the result was again in the balance. Some big hitting from Howard and Cook quickly restored the balance and they saw Great Melton to victory.

NORTHELMHAM beat Horsford C by 102 runs in Norfolk League Division Six.

Elmham travelled to the second pitch at Manor Park to take on a young Horsford C side and were asked to bat first on a well used and dusty pitch. Openers Chris Palmer and Tony Garrod made slow steady progress. Only 20 runs came from the first 10 overs but gradually the pair got to grips with the pace and bounce and the scoring rate increased as they put on 66 before Garrod was bowled for 24. Ant Keeble soon got into his stride. The pair added 65 in 11 overs before Palmer was lbw for 61.

Keeble continued to smash the ball to all parts, scoring 58 from 55 balls, before he was also lbw. Iain Sinclair was run out for 12 before Christo Slabbert took up the attacking role scoring 23 from 14 balls. Gideon Rossouw scored a quick 19 and the innings closed at 231-8 from 45 overs.

Ant Keeble and Iain Sinclair opened the Elmham bowling attack but found Rooney very severe on anything off line. Sinclair struck first and Keeble had Rooney caught by Rossouw for 28. Sinclair then took an excellent diving caught and bowled millimetres off the ground to dismiss home skipper Ranns for four. Rob Joplin and Phil Blackford replaced the opening bowlers as Elmham took the pace off the ball.

Joplin in his first game of the season was soon into his stride bowling Inwards with his second ball. He struck again in his next over and Horsford were 65-5. Lake was batting well and R Clarke also batted watchfully and the pair took the score along to 117 before Clarke was run out for eight. Lake passed his half-century but after the run out the Horsford innings folded with Lake not out on 61. Rob Joplin was the pick of the Elmham bowlers with 4-27 from 9.3 overs, Sinclair took 3-35 and Blackford in his first bowl of the year was unlucky not to take a wicket. Next, Elmham are at home to Ketteringham Hall A, 2pm start, players meet at 1.15pm.

North Elmham: C Palmer lbw b Lake 61, A Garrod b Aldridge 24, A Keeble lbw b Rooney 58, R Futter b Aldridge 2, I Sinclair run out 12, C Slabbert c Ranns b Foyster 23, R Joplin run out 1, G Rossouw not out 19, C Tindall c Ranns b Foyster 0, P Blackford not out 5; extras 26. Total (45 overs) 231-8. Bowling: J Rooney 12-2-32-1, E Lake 10-1-29-1, R Clarke 5-0-29-0, E Benton 4-0-29-0, G Aldridge 9-0-73-2, Foyster 5-0-34-2.

Horsford C: J Rooney c Rossouw b Keeble 28, G Aldridge b Sinclair 9, A Ranns c-b Sinclair 4, D Inwards b Joplin 4, E Lake not out 61, T Roddick c Slabbert b Joplin 0, R Clarke run out 8, E Benton b Joplin 0, C Skipper b Sinclair 0, N Clarke c Garrod b Joplin 0; extras 13. Total (32.3 overs) 129. Bowling: A Keeble 7-2-27-1, I Sinclair 8-1-35-3, R Joplin 9.3-1-27-4, P Blackford 8-0-33-0.

Beetley (18 pts) beat Gayton (4) by five wickets fielding 10 men.

Losing the toss, Paul Taylor made the breakthrough having T Mallett (8) caught by Keith Daykin before Gareth Taggart trapped A Chadderton (31) lbw and B Thompson (0) with the score on 43. M Blowers (15) and B Howell took the score to 76 before the former became G Taggart's second lbw victim. His second two-wicket burst gave Gareth his fifth wicket bowling M Coker (14) and Ady Burton catching C Thaxton (0). Sanjay Shah took the wicket of the dangerous Ben Howell (32) caught by Ady Burton with the score on 114-7 before the 'G'-man took his sixth wicket giving Ady Burton his third catch. Gary Hinchliffe deservedly took the last wicket to bowl Gayton out for 117.

Beetley were 11-2 with Paul Taylor run out by a superb throw. After 24 overs they were 39-2 against the tight bowling of M Haylock 0-18 and A Thompson 1-16. Keith Daykin and Nick Calvert (25) took the score to 52 before Nick was caught on the boundary. Sanjay Shah was run out for one before Gary Hinchliffe joined Keith Daykin and they took the score to 113 before Gary Hinchliffe (20) was caught. Simon Stott (2 no) tied the scores at 117 before three runs by Keith Daykin (52 no) took the score to 120 earning Beetley an additional bonus point and skipper Keith Daykin his 50.

BRADENHAM entertained Bradfield in Division One of the Sunday League and won by 61 runs.

Bradfield elected to bat and Peter Hills and Brett Stolworthy put on 42 with Hills completing his maiden half-century for the club, eventually departing for a well-constructed 54. Useful contributions from the middle order kept the scoreboard ticking and the arrival of Lewis Denmark accelerated the run rate. He was undefeated on 58 in a competitive total of 226.

Bradfield showed intent with Sam Kimber playing a number of big shots. Jordan Cantwell, 16, sharing the opening overs with Patrick Dewing, bowled superbly, taking the first three wickets in an impressive opening spell, including the dangerous Kimber. Brett Stolworthy replaced Cantwell and his tight spell put the squeeze on the experienced Bidewell and Yarham, the former edging to wicketkeeper Affleck. Yarham made 76 before being caught impressively in the deep by Steve Matthews. The target proved too big for Bradfield.