A godly century seals victory for WN
The match manager (Stanton R) chose the beautiful setting of Stow Bardolph to try a new theory for 20:20 which proved a winning formula. He selected a side with more spin than an election campaign, but a good mix of youth and experience with several fine debutants. Captain du jour (Holden J) negotiated the toss to ensure a run chase and set to work with his eclectic toolset.
Goodley opened the bowling with steady resolve, ably supported by the first of the newboys leg spinner Alex Wallace (4-0-18-0) who changed the stage of Harrow 2nd XI for the grandeur of West Norfolk. Wallace bowled a tidy spell, setting a high standard, which the other spinners dramatically failed to get anywhere near. Thompson (2-0-34-0) finding better form than at Felsted was still adeptly dispatched to all parts. Reaching for the only other seamer, débutante George Oleson (3-0-12-2) proved a steadying decision as his natural action produced a hat-trick opportunity in his second over. At the other end off spinner Otto Esse (2-0-13-0) was unlucky not to upstage every bowler with a promising couple of overs. Fairey (2-0-20-1) replaced Oleson and proved an instant success with a first ball wicket. However, the following 11 balls were dispatched to the long grass. Débutante Wilson-Stevens (4-0-30-0) and Goodley (4-0-34-1) brought us home with 171 to beat.
With Fairey and Goodley opening, a disastrous over left West Norfolk 0-2 after 3 balls. Talbot-Williams invaluable orally, played all-round a straight delivery successfully renewing his membership of the primary club (www.primaryclub.org). As the Fisher Cup proved in 2008, West Norfolk are experts at snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in 20:20.
The captain decided a steadying hand was needed and promoted himself up the order, rather than letting Wallace face a hattrick-ball. This tactic was sound but he was soon made to regret it when Tom Goodley hit a 5 to long-on. Goodley was strikng the ball majestically with elegant straight drives, sweeps, flicks and pulls for six. A third wicket stand of 79 runs in seven overs, saw Holden replaced by the held back Wallace, who followed instructions to take his time to play himself in and supported well with some elegant drives and cuts to the boundary. Goodley eventually skied one to cover, his first mistake, succumbing on 111 to nelson’s fate. Wilson-Stephens (0*) and Oleson G (0*) were left to bring home the bacon in the last over with leg byes, but it was left to the skipper to score the final runs (as umpire) awarding two wides as Wilson-Stephens struggled to get his 1970’s pads or his bat anywhere near the ball. West Norfolk won by 5 wickets, with 3 balls in hand.
With one catch, one wicket and one century, man of the match had to be the man to Nelson, Tom Goodley.
A lovely ground, a great victory a great spirited team with some promising talent (well done Match Manager!). Thanks also to our host Will Esse, who whilst upstaged by his son fielded adeptly.
