B’s battle to earn extra points
GREAT MELTON B (9 points) lost to MARTHAM (25 points) by 61 Runs at Martham playing fields in the Lucas & Fettes Norfolk League Division 3
Great Melton B looked to continue their good start to the season travelling to Martham.
Woody Loines got the ball rolling when winning the toss and putting the hosts into bat, unfortunately this is where the good fortune ended in the first part of the game.
Martham opener J. Watnough showed his hand early by hitting the usually reliable Gary Coulson (11-1-70-3) for 4 in his first over. This continued to be the trend for the next fifteen overs as the Martham batsmen continued to hit boundaries at an alarming rate. After 15 overs Martham were 127-0 with Watnough reaching his half century well supported by his partner A. Sayer.
It wasn't until the 19th over that Melton took their first wicket when Fawad Kaiser had Sayer caught in the by Mardell for 53 with the score at 152.
Watnough fell 5 short of his century in the 22nd over again with Mardell taking a stunning catch off the bowling of F. Kaiser (12-1-63-3) the second time in two games Melton have been on the receiving end of a batsman scoring 95.
Melton now began to turn the screw with N. Clarke getting a wicket in 6th over trapping Fairbrother l.b.w for 14, wickets now beginning to fall regularly.
Having been 152-0 going into the 19th over Martham looked to be posting a total well in excess of 300 their next 26 overs was in complete contrast at 129-9.
After the opening pair blew Melton away all the bowlers bowled well despite the expensive looking figures. The team stuck to their task well, fielding supporting the bowlers despite the fact of what was in front of them in an opening pair that simply took the game away from them in the first 15 overs.
The pick of the bowlers being David Bunn 11-2-52-1 being the most economical whilst Gary Coulson and Fawad Kaiser taking 3 Wickets each.
After the break Melton set about their mammoth task of chasing down the 282 for victory. The innings didn't start well as first ball of the innings Martham bowler S. Randell getting one to lift sharply off a length and hitting Neal Clarke on the gloves looping up to gully, fortunately there was a call of no ball from the umpire. Despite this Melton lost their first wicket 3 overs later as Tony Alborough guiding one to 3rd slip for 0. This brought skipper woody Loines to the crease who set about the task in his normal aggressive manner.
Before the innings started the Loines had said to his batsmen the target was to get somewhere in the region of 60-80 in the first 20 overs. He couldn't have wished for a better response from his team as after 20 overs Melton had scored 91 runs, but unfortunately they had lost four wickets. This continued to be the theme of the innings as just as a partnership got going Melton continued to lose wickets regularly which in the end put an end to them having a chance of chasing down 282.
There were plenty of good innings though opener Clarke battled hard for a patient 36, Loines himself hitting 40 but it wasn't until David Bunn came to the crease at 8 did another Melton batsmen pass 15. Bunn hid the ball hard hitting boundaries regularly, with Melton now targeting 200 to claim maximum batting points.
Bunn had good support from George Ducker (14) Jake Mardell (9) and Kyle Mason (5.no) smashing his way to a personal milestone of 67 not out and also guiding Melton past the 200 mark to gain the maximum batting points.
All in all it was hard working performance and Melton can pleased with their days work, fielding and bowling well despite the onslaught from the opposing batsmen and battling hard with the bat to reach a total of 221 of which on any other given day they would be very pleased with.
A. Sayer ct. Mardell b. Kaiser 53
J. Watnough ct. Mardell b. Kaiser 95
I. Fairbrother l.b.w N. Clarke 14
A. Punchard b. Kaiser 0
l. Boylen ct. Moxon b. Kaiser 0
A. Spelman b. Coulson 18
C. Randell b. Coulson 7
D. Spencer ct. Mardell b. D. Bunn 6
M. Beckett not out 17
S. Randell ct. Moxon b. Coulson 44
J. Ewing not out 2
TOTAL 281-9 (extras 24)
G. Coulson 11-1-70-3, K. Mason 2-0-21-0, D. Bunn 11-2-52-1, F. Kaiser 12-1-63-4, N. Clarke 9-2-50-1
N. Clarke b. Sayer 36
A. Alborough ct. Sayer b. S. Randell 0
D. Loines ct. Beckett b. S. Randell 40
J. Dorling b. S. Randell 12
J. Moxon b. S. Randell 3
F. Kaiser b. S. Randell 5
G. Ducker run out 14
D. Bunn not out 67
J .Mardell b. Spelman 9
G. Coulson ct. Sub b. Spelman 0
K. mason not out 5
TOTAL 221-9 (extras 30)
S. Randell 12-2-43-4, D. Spencer 5-0-19-0, l. Boylen 10-1-61-1, A. Sayer 7-1-25-1, J. Watnough 7-0-42-0, A. Spelman 4-0-21-2.
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