Cromer’s league campaign got off to the best possible start on Saturday, as Tom Davies' First XI beat Old Buckenham by 59 runs in the Norfolk Alliance Premier Division, bowling the home team out for 110 with 11 overs to spare.
Richard Charlwood led the way for Cromer with 78, and overseas professional Rayno Arendse chipped in with 39, yet with only 169 on the board as the innings closed the Cromer total looked vunerable at best. The situation was critical as Old Buckenham serenely took 20 off the first five overs, but Arendse came to the party with the ball with 3-23 as the home team started to struggle.
Jez Wright and off-spinner Colin Brown each claimed a brace of wickets, but the happiest man of the day was seamer James Craske, who joined Arendse with 3-23 on his competitive debut for Cromer.
Skipper Davies was delighted – and relieved – as the final wicket fell.
“I must admit I though 169 was below par on that wicket,” Davies said. “We had a few words at tea and to give the bowlers credit the performance that followed was outstanding.
“Charlwood batted well; he should be knocking on the door of the Norfolk Development squad this year – and of course we’re all pleased for James Craske on his first league start for us. We’ve got a good young side here, a great professional, and we’re quietly optimistic about the season.”
| Cromer innings
R. Arendse c. A. Austin b. R. Nath 39
A. Lithins c. A. Austin b. D. Savage 3
R. Charlwood bowled b. R. Austin 78
C. Brown c. B. Mann b. R. Austin 13
T. Davies lbw B. Mann 9
M. Warnes Run Out 3
J. Wright bowled B. Mann 2
A. Buck lbw B. Mann 0
P. Gascoyne Not Out 7
J. Craske bowled R. Austin 0
B. Wright bowled R. Austin 0
Extras 15
Total (all out) 169
Old Buckenham bowling
B. Mann 10-2-36-3, D. Savage 6-1-12-1, R. Austin 10-1-35-4,
C. Howes 12-1-49-0, R. Nath 10-1-31-1.
Old Buckenham innings
T. Perry c. P. Gascoyne b. R. Arendse 7
J. Fudge c. P. Gascoyne b. J. Craske 31
R. Nath lbw R. Arendse 6
G. Palmer bowled C. Brown 9
S. Mann bowled R. Arendse 4
A. Austin lbw J. Wright 1
D. Savage c. R. Arendse b. C. Brown 6
J. Heaney bowled J. Wright 0
B. Mann c. R. Arendse b. J. Craske 19
R. Austin Not Out 5
C. Howes c. P. Gascoyne b. J. Craske 0
Extras 22
Total (all out) 110
Cromer bowling
M. Warnes 9-2-29-0, R. Arendse 13-4-23-3, J. Craske 8-1-23-3,
J. Wright 8-2-11-2, C. Brown 5-1-21-2.
|