Greshams win by four wickets.
West Norfolk had an uncharacteristically solid start, Junior JK (Harry Kennedy) inherited his fathers strike rate but set a solid platform for 65 for the first wicket stand. Pat Sheridan, Robert Wilson and Joe Crame all came in to blast fifties and build a solid score either side of lunchtime. Post lunch fatigue crept in with three wickets before Henry Parker and James Holden smashed an unbeaten partnership of 42, and strike rates of 125 and 183 respectively, allowed us to declaring on a competitive 260 (52 Overs).
Gresham’s had a steady start with WN’s open bowling attack looking a little wayward, only to pierced by the slap of leather on palm and thud of a Stanton hitting the ground to take what has to have been one of the best slip catches witnessed in recent years – diving to his right Ben Stanton had no time to think and his instincts removed Billy Buckingham. George Craig then caught Ed Parker out twice behind the stumps and nearly ran him out amidst a comedy of fielding errors, before Parker missed a straight one from Ben Stanton. Clearly ‘walking’ has been removed from the curriculum. One of two Zimbabwe students in the first XI, Tatenda Chiradza went on to score a faultless hundred before being caught by JK Junior. James Holden then broke up the recognised bowlers for a couple of overs of left arm filth, removing the wicket of Tom Sheridan, however we were unable to clinch the last five wickets for less than 30 runs, and the school eased home for victory with 3.4 overs left (47.2 Bowled).
All in all a good days cricket, with over 520 days runs and contributions with bat and ball by most players, including a selection of new players who brought the average age below 30!
