Norfolk visited the well-appointed Welwyn Garden City CC for the first time to take on Hertfordshire CCC in two T20’s. The ground looked in excellent condition and skipper Sam Athurton had no hesitation in batting first when he won the toss for the opening game.
Norfolk were without opener Freddie Fairey who was taken ill during the night and therefore Hami Qadri opened with Arthurton. Qadri was first to go caught by wicket keeper Ed Hales off Sam Davis for 4 with the score on 16 in the third over. Arthurton and Ben Wilcox then added 56 for the second wicket with both players striking the ball well until Arthurton edged a ball to Hales to depart in the tenth over for 43. Wilcox was getting into full flow and with Alfie Cooper the pair put on 96 in 8 overs. Wilcox hit six fours and four big sixes before his superb innings came to end when he was caught in the deep by Andrew Neal from the bowling of Jacob Gordon for 75 going for another maximum. Cooper followed Wilcox back to the pavilion five balls later for an equally good 43 from 25 balls when he was stumped charging down the wicket by Hales off Neal the Hampshire contracted player. The innings wound up on a challenging 181 for 5.
Hertfordshire came out of the blocks flying in pursuit of the challenging target and Hales smashed four fours in his 21 before he was caught by Arthurton off Andy Hanby with the score on 28. Several Herts batsmen got good starts but there was nobody who was able to go on and play a match winning innings. Norfolk who were tremendous in the field throughout the day kept taking wickets at key times to prevent big partnerships developing and eventually restricted the hosts to 159 for 5 to win by 22 runs. Cameron Graveling had 2 for 24 from his four overs.
The second game followed a similar pattern with Norfolk batting first after winning the toss again. This time it was Arthurton (19) who was first to fall after putting on 52 with Qadri who was playing a dominant innings. Wilcox joined Qadri at the crease and continued his fine form from the morning. The duo had taken the score to 95 when Qadri was caught in 12th over by Archie Harrison from the bowling of Dan Orchard for 47 which contained three fours and three sixes. Much the same as his morning innings Wilcox was enjoying himself striking the ball to all parts of the ground as he put on 73 with Alfie Cooper (29) for the third wicket. Cooper and Charlie Hood were dismissed in quick succession prior to Wilcox’s second excellent cameo ending when he was again caught in the deep for 73 from 41 balls with five fours and four sixes.
The Norfolk innings closed on the same score as the first match 181 for 5.
Hertfordshire lost their first two wickets for 32 before a partnership of 93 in 12 overs by Archie Harrison and Arjun Patel looked like it may lead them to victory. Fortunately for Norfolk Hanby struck with the wicket of Patel who was caught by Cooper for 49. Five balls later Qadri trapped Harrison LBW for 52. It left Herts needing 51 from 4.5 overs and it seemed as it may be on as Neal struck 20 from 10 balls before a good catch in the deep by Arthurton off Qadri finished his knock. With seven wickets and 15 required from the last two overs Herts were the favourites but a fine over by Hanby conceding just six and finishing with the wicket of Jack Plom who was bowled from his final ball left nine needed from the last over. Qadri held his nerve conceding just 4 runs plus a leg bye in a brilliant over and bowling Ben Clifford from the last ball of the match to see Norfolk home by 3 runs.
Hanby took 3 for 34 and Qadri 3 for 36 both from four overs and it was their experience at the end conceding just 10 runs from the bat in the last two overs that was key.
Scorecards: Norfolk CCC
