BRADENHAM travelled to Ingham to take on Norwich in Division One of the Norfolk Alliance and secured a losing draw.The weather was perfect for a great game of cricket and this is exactly what these teams produced, including a century in each innings, Steven Matthews for Bradenham.

BRADENHAM travelled to Ingham to take on Norwich in Division One of the Norfolk Alliance and secured a losing draw.

The weather was perfect for a great game of cricket and this is exactly what these teams produced, including a century in each innings, Steven Matthews for Bradenham.

Norwich won the toss and elected to bat on as good a track as the teams are likely to encounter this season. It was always going to be an uphill task for the bowling team.

Tipping and Jessop opened the batting for Norwich whist Stolworthy and Gates were asked to open the bowling for Bradenham. Both were able to get a little out of the wicket and regularly passed the outside edge of the bat in the opening overs.

However, anything fuller pitched or slightly short was dealt with severely, and the score rattled along to 50 off 10 overs without loss.

Gates struck for Bradenham having Jessop caught behind for 24. Sutton added 23 runs before he was lbw to Gates. He was followed by all-rounder Stacey who stroked a good 36 before being caught at long-on off Denmark.

Denmark then added to his tally by bowling Goodley for 20. Binnie, wasted no time however in punishing anything wayward from the Bradenham bowlers, finishing on 52 not out. At the other end, opener Tipping finished on an entertaining 115 not out, out of 293 for 5 off 50 overs. Gates' figures of two for 26 were the best for Bradenham.

This was a huge total for Bradenham to chase and when opener Evans was caught at slip for four early on, the task looked even harder. However, Matthews at the other end was beginning to play his shots and boundaries began to flow for Bradenham.

Popes Selowa came in to further increase the run rate and at 68 for 1 off 14 overs, Bradenham were well up with the required run rate.

The unfortunate Selowa had to retire hurt when on 20 however with severe cramp in both legs which came at completely the wrong time for Bradenham. Denmark replaced Selowa but was caught on the square leg boundary for one.

Fortunately, Matthews continued his attack on the Norwich bowling and was steadily building a good score. Hunter and Dewing added 21 between them and when Dewing was caught, a recovered Selowa came back to the wicket. He was unable to recapture his earlier form however and was bowled by Flanagan having added only four more runs.

Captain Blakey struck some handsome shots, and while he was still at the wicket, the Norwich total was still within Bradenham's grasp. But when he departed for 21, the task was all but impossible with only 10 overs remaining.

Matthews however was revelling in the conditions at the other end and it was left to him and Stolworthy to see out the remaining overs.

Stolworthy finished on 24 not out whilst Matthews finished on a superb 114 not out, a really great innings in the circumstances. The Bradenham innings closed on 250 for 6.

With nearly 550 runs scored on the day, this was a great game of cricket played in an excellent spirit by both teams. Bradenham can take much credit from the match and look forward to their home game against Beccles on The Green on Saturday.

Bradenham are sponsored by Blue Print Mortgages. Match ball sponsored by Trek Highway Services