It was an excellent day for Norfolk at Woolpit on Sunday when they won both their matches against a Suffolk side who were previously unbeaten in this seasons NCCA T20 competition. As a result of the two victories Norfolk now head the group with 10 points out of a possible twelve which is two more than Suffolk. Both teams have two more fixtures left to play next Sunday when Norfolk will entertain Cambridgeshire at Sprowston CC and Suffolk visit Hertfordshire.
In the morning game, Norfolk set two new records in T20 cricket when they amassed their highest total score since the inception of the competition posting 219 for 6. In the process Freddie Fairey became the first Norfolk batsman to register a century in this format when he smashed 108 from 59 balls.
After losing the toss Norfolk were asked to bat first. It was a decision that Suffolk skipper for the day Adam Jones would start to regret as Fairey set about the Suffolk bowlers in brutal fashion. Fairey put on 42 with Arthurton in 4.2 overs and then added 66 with Ben Wilcox (25) before featuring in a partnership of 88 with Sammy King. Fairey was dismissed from the first ball of the eighteenth over with the total on 196. His magnificent knock contained thirteen fours and four sixes. King was also in blistering form as he hit three fours and four sixes in his unbeaten 52.
Suffolk got off to the worst possible start losing four wickets for just 17 runs in the first three overs to effectively end the game as a contest. Skipper Adam Jones (51) and Darren Ironside (55) brought an air of respectability to the Suffolk innings with a partnership of 96 for the fifth wicket as they finished their overs on 148 for 7.
There was some very well controlled bowling from the Norfolk attack in which Hami Qadri led the way with 3 for 25 from his four overs and Joe Everett had 2 for 19. The bowlers were backed up by some brilliant fielding.
In the second match Suffolk won the toss and elected to bat hoping for a change in fortune. Again, they were up against some tight bowling and excellent fielding. The innings never really gained true momentum and despite another half-century from Jones and 31 not out from Ironside they ended up on 137 for 4 which was below par on a fine wicket with a lightning-fast outfield. Qadri had two wickets with one each for Andy Hanby and Callum Metcalf.
Once Fairey (20) and Arthurton (20) had put on 34 for the first wicket in quick time victory was never really in doubt. Fairey was the first to depart when caught by Jones off the bowling of Alex Cruickshank and Arthurton followed LBW to Dan Shanks with the score on 57. This brought Ben Wilcox and Sammy King together and the pair saw Norfolk to a comfortable eight wicket victory in the fifteenth over. King continued his destructive form with 60 from 26 balls that included five fours and four sixes whilst Wilcox helped himself to an unbeaten 37.
One victory against Cambridgeshire on 6th July should see Norfolk win the group and ensure they are at home in the super 12’s on 3rd August.