After last weeks disappointment, Cromer faced second placed Kirkley at the Norton Warnes ground hoping to prove they had taken on board the lessons learned in defeat.
And how they responded.
Van Greuning lost the toss but was delighted when Kirkley showed no hesitation in putting Cromer in, and on their home track his batsmen made hay.
With both regular openers unavailable Barrett and Wright stepped up to the plate and put on 75 in 16 overs to put Cromer on their way. Graveling, Regis and Dickens then followed with scores of 29, 41 and 42 respectively and by the time Dickens departed Cromer were a very healthy 221 for 5 , finally reaching 234 for 8 from their allotted 45 overs.
Kirkley are not in second spot for no reason, and the rest of the job still had to be done.
Step forward Regis and Battrick, reunited as the new ball attack after Regis’ unavailability last weekend, and once more the pair strangled the opposition batsmen as they have all season, this time restricting them to 28 for 2 from 13 overs before they took a well earned breather.
Cromer’s first change bowlers looked to be suffering a hangover from last’s weekends’ mauling at Brooke, until Sam Dickens dragged up a performance based on sheer guts and determination. After going for 19 runs off 4 overs (albeit with one wicket) giving the impression he would rather be anywhere but on the ground, a few pointed words galvanised his spirit and he turned in a breathtaking 6.6 overs, taking 6 for 21 to finish with a superb 7 for 40, which reinforced the fact that he can be a class act at this level.
Man of the match without a doubt to Dickens, who matched his 7 wickets with 42 runs; praise though also to the rest of the batting who for the first time this season all made a contribution; and no second XI report would be complete this year without yet another mention in dispatches for the superb opening bowling of Regis and Battrick, the latter of whom bowled excellently with no luck at all.
As luck would have it Brooke were hit by the rain on Saturday, so with the half way point of the season approaching this weekend, and Cromer breathing hard down the necks of the leaders, it’s as we were at the top and all to play for.
| Cromer L Barrett Bld Cross 34
J Wright Ct Atkinson 35
R Graveling Ct Muirhead 29
K Regis Bld Atkinson 41
S Dickens Bld Atkinson 42
A Van Greuning Lbw Atkinson 5
J Battrick Not Out 1
D Green Bld Bessey 3
A Craske Ct Bessey 4
N Taylor Not Out 2
B Wright Dnb
Extras 38 Total (for 8) 234
Bowling J Holmes 12-1-59-0 S Bessey 10-0-53-2 F Cross 4-0-18-1 N Muirhead 10-1-49-1 Atkinson 9-0-33-4
Kirkley
V Parker Bld Regis 8
R Knighton Bld Regis 7
S Bessey Ct Wright Dickens 16
G Tuttle Bld Dickens 24
D Laws Ct Regis Taylor 11
J Holmes Bld Dickens 21
F Cross Not Out 21
A Carroll Bld Dickens 0
C Atkinson Bld Dickens 0
N Muirhead Ct Wright Dickens 8
D Read Bld Dickens 1
Extras 39 Total (all out) 156
Bowling Regis 7-0-12-2 Battrick 6-1-13-0 Craske 5-0-28-0 Dickens 10.5-1-40-7 Taylor 3-0-22-1 Van Greuning 3-0-22-0
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