'Friends of Norfolk Youth Cricket' Norfolk U11's Results 2014

Friends of Norfolk Youth Cricket Norfolk U11's Results 2014
Cambridgeshire Home at Saxlingham 8th June
Won by 25 runs
Norfolk won the toss and chose to bat. After a solid start we lost openers James Quilter and Ben Blowers in quick succession. This brought Elliot Fox and Tom Bailey to the crease and they initially found it hard to get the spinners away. When Elliot was out, Tom shared partnerships of 27 with Zach Taylor and 31 with Dan Sheridan before bringing up his 50 in the 35th over. At this point the innings was beginning to accelerate and went into overdrive when Louis Hart came in and smashed 35 not out in 23 balls. This took us what looked like a par score of 159.
In response, Cambs gifted us an early run out and Dan Bint took another early wicket. This brought in Garantia and Bramley who put on 45 but quite slowly. Both spinners, Edward Taylor and Ben Blowers put the brakes on and Ben took two crucial wickets including Garantia, stumped by Jack Robertson. Cambs then fell well behind the rate and Norfolk tried all their bowlers. At this point the bowling and fielding, under little pressure, became particularly ragged and Cambs scored more runs than they should have.
In total we bowled 34 wides, an unforgivable amount. However we still were clear winners in the end and special mentions should be made to Dan Sheridan and Buzz Kemp who took their first county wickets.
Northants Away at Brigstock 22nd June
Won by 1 run
We won the toss and chose to bat on looked like a good wicket.
Unfortunately we lost 2 early wickets but Elliot Fox and Tom Bailey put on 38 as we looked to repair the damage. Neither batsmen was at their most fluent and both fell as they attempted to up the tempo. We regretted this as we lost 6, 7 and 8 in fairly quick succession. Dan Bint came in played breezily before losing Dan Sheridan for a well crafted 15. In what turned out to be a crucial last wicket stand, Buzz Kemp then came in and played with no little skill to help Bint add 17 for the final wicket. However our final score of 92 was still very disappointing especially as we only batted 33 of the allotted 40. Dan Bint top scored with 22.
In reply Northants gifted us an early run out and Dan Bint and Louis Hart picked up 3 early wickets between them. At 26 for 5 Northants were in dire straits but a sixth wicket stand of 31 appeared to turn the initiative back in favour of the home side. Buzz Kemp then crucially broke this stand bowling Metcalfe. At this point it was anyone’s game. Nathan Shaw was then brought on and he got the crucial wicket of Bascetta Pollit. Still, Northants inched to the finish line and only needed 7 to win off the last 3 overs with 3 wickets left. However Norfolk held their nerve, in particular Nathan Shaw who took two crucial wickets including a vital catch by Bint off the last ball when Northants needed two to win. All in all it was a good bowling and fielding display.
Norfolk know they can play better than this and that they were lucky to escape with a win after a sub par batting display.
Lincolnshire Away 22nd June
Won by 8 wickets
After the close shave at Northants, this was a much more comprehensive performance.
We arrived at Boston having travelled through relentless rain and were surprised to find the ground dry and ready for play. However the wicket was green and we were pleased when the home won the toss and chose to bat. Wickets soon fell and the home side were reeling at 13 for 4 and then 35 for 5. Daniel Bint and Louis Hart again asked a lot of questions of the batsmen and they were found wanting, Bint picking up four wickets in his opening spell and Hart just the one. On another day, Louis could easily have picked up a hatful himself. After an unnecessary run out compounded Lincs’ woes, their captain Caswell and Hawkins attempted the repair the damage with the odd adventurous stroke. However Caswell was next bowled by a sharply turning ball from Edward Taylor and, with him, Lincs’ faint hopes of a decent score disappeared. After 9 and 10 had gone quickly they were 65 for 9 and, when the tenth wicket pair had put on 13 to take them to 78 for 9, Bint was brought back on to round of his five wicket haul, comprehensively bowling Hawkins.
We have had trouble chasing low scores before but this time a 50 opening partnership put any fears to rest. Ben Blowers and James Quilter batted very sensibly and Quilter was very unlucky to be given out caught off a neck high delivery. After Blowers had gone, trying to finish things off quickly, Jack Robertson and Nathan Shaw calmly saw us a home to an emphatic win.