Sunday side dominate in third successive win
GREAT MELTON beat ASHMANHAUGH WANDERERS by 157 Runs at Barton Turf in the Mid Norfolk League Boyle Division One
Great Melton Sunday side looked to continue their good start to the season with a third win in a row, winning the toss and deciding to bat first.
Skipper George Bunn opening the innings, with a different partner from the previous week in Simon Wooldridge, and with 14 coming off the first over of the innings both batsmen looking to be positive and make hay on a hot sunny afternoon on the broads.
With the rate at an impressive six an over and both batsmen finding the boundary with some regularity it was an excellent display of controlled aggression with some excellent touch play. Bunn and Wooldridge reached their half century partnership in only the 8th over, with some wayward bowling from the home side helping the Melton cause.
The pair reached their next milestone in just 17 overs as they passed 100 and by the time Wooldridge had passed his own well made half century they had put on 149 for the first wicket, an excellent platform for the rest of the visitors batsmen to build on.
In at three was Martyn Cook who in his usual aggressive style got off the mark with a four and from there on in it was a pretty hard slog in the field for the home side, although the slow bowlers Beadon (0-38) and Edge (1-53) slowed the rate a touch it was only a matter of time before Cook showed them what he is capable of.
Once Bunn had passed 50 he rotated the strike to get Cook on strike and unleash fury on the wilting bowlers, with an awesome display of hitting combined with accurate cricket shots he put them to the sword.
Passing his own half century he pushed the rate upwards with skipper Bunn until the latter was dismissed stumped for the second week running for 68, Matt Clarke the joined Cook at the crease. Cook again continued to push on Clarke trying to do so also but being caught by Everett of his own bowling Melton lost their third and final wicket.
Lee Whiddett came into bat trying to get Cook on strike as he continued to blast his way to his maiden century, and with 2 overs remaining he reached the landmark in being at the crease for no fewer than 14 overs, receiving a generous ovation from not only his team mates but from the home players and supporters in recognition of a stunning show of power and aggression.
The Visitors total finishing on 301-3.
After the tea break Melton looked to finish the job off and bowl out the home side and with 4 overs gone it looked as if there task would be over sooner than thought as Ashmanhaugh were reduced to 13-2 and having one batsmen retire hurt.
The home side were not going to make it easy though as skipper Beadon (57) and R. Eagleton (21) put on 48 for the third wicket in a stubborn partnership, this was ended by Michael Farmer (6-0-31-1) who removed Eagleton caught behind by Matt Clarke and with Neal Clarke (8-0-33-2) drying the runs up at the other end it was left to Beadon to try and conjure up a magic knock to match that of Cook to try and win the game for the home side.
That hope was ended when younger bowlers Daniel Hayward (6-2-9-3) and Connor Stearman (3.1-1-6-2) were brought on as Hayward bowled a boring line and length and he dismissed Beadon with the score on 121-5.
The last few wickets were soon taken as the bowlers shared the wickets around but Melton’s task could have been made a lot easier had they been more ruthless in the field as seven catches were put down, but all in all another good performance by the Sunday side to take them top of the league after three games.
Great Melton Innings
G. Bunn st. A. Toll b. Webster 68, S. Wooldridge ct. Beadon b. Edge 70, M. Cook 108 not out, M. Clarke ct&b. Everett 9, L. Whiddett 6 not out. Total 301-3 (extras 21w, 6nb, 10b, 7lb).
J. Sheldrake 7-0-58-0, J. Everett 10-1-64-1, Y. Rehman 4-0-34-0, J. Edge 10-0-53-1, C. Beadon 10-0-53-1, I. Webster 3-0-38-0
Ashmanhaugh Wanderers innings
R. Eagleton lbw C. Stearman 6, M. Eccles Run out 0, C. Beadon b. D. Hayward 57, A. Toll lbw P. Stearman 0, R. Eagleton jnr ct. M. Clarke b. Farmer 21, J. Edge ct G. Bunn b. N. Clarke 21, J. Everett lbw N. Clarke 6, T. Bulley ct. M. Clarke b. D. Hayward 0, I. Webster b. D. Hayward 4, Y. Rehman b. C. Stearman 5, J. Sheldrake 6 not out. Total 144 all out (extras 13w, 2b, 3lb)
R. Hayward 7-1-27-0, P. Stearman 6-0-26-1, M. Farmer 6-0-31-1, N. Clarke 8-0-33-2, D. Hayward 6-2-9-3, C. Stearman 3.1-1-6-2
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