What is believed to be the largest crowd since the 1990’s when Norfolk CCC were playing at Lakenham turned out to see the annual ECB Showcase fixture and for the second year running saw Kent Spitfires as the visitors to Barkers Lane, Sprowston. The Spitfires played their full part in what was an excellent day and were a credit to their county. They brought a strong squad as they treated it as a warm-up game for their opening Metro Bank One Day Cup on 24th July.
Spitfires won the toss and batted first. Norfolk got off to a fine start as both Kent openers Sam Northeast and Daniel Bell-Drummond fell early with Arthur Wilcox having Northeast caught by keeper Charlie Hood from the first delivery of the second over. Nathan Muggeridge then reduced the Spitfires to 16 for 2 when he had Bell-Drummond caught by Freddie Fairey.
Chris Benjamin joined Harry Finch at the wicket, and the pair saw the score to 46 before debutant Max Brister removed Finch in his first over. Benjamin was striking the ball well and soon increased the tempo. He shared in a stand of 86 with Jaydn Denly (32) and 53 with Ben Compton (25) taking the score to 185. It was the introduction of fellow debutant Jayden Borges who removed the pair. First Denly was bowled attempting a reverse sweep before Compton holed out to Ben Wilcox. Bowling with some guile Borges put in an impressive ten overs.
Further wickets fell as former Kent player Hanmi Qadri caught Ekansh Singh off the bowling of Arthur Wilcox and Brister who had bowled with some pace catching the eye of the Kent staff had Joey Evison caught by Hood.
At 212 for 7 Norfolk were in a decent position but then Grant Stewart came in as Benjamin brought up an excellent century. He had made 121 from 125 balls when Hood took a catch off Arthur Wilcox to end his stay at the crease which included twelve fours and three sixes. Stewart hit three consecutive sixes and added a further two in his explosive knock of 45 no. to lift the final score to 284 before running out of partners in 49th over.
Arthur Wilcox had 4 for 55, Brister 2 for 46 and Borges 2 for 56.
When Norfolk batted Stewart and Benjamin combined for the first breakthrough off the eight ball when Fairey was caught behind for one. Enoch Uthayarajan who was shaping up well was surprised by a ball from Jas Singh that jagged back a fair way to clatter into his stumps and Hood was deceived by Evison to leave Norfolk on 32 for 3.
Just when it looked like a recovery was underway, Ekansh Singh trapped both Arthur Wilcox and Jonah Wicks LBW to reduce Norfolk to 65 for 5. Borges was well caught at long on going for his second six and when skipper Sam Arthurton departed for a patient 35 with the score on 102 it looked as though Norfolk may fold. Due to some powerful hitting from Hami Qadri with six fours in his 42 and some strong resistance in another mature batting performance by Nathan Muggeridge (28 n.o.) Norfolk took their final total to 185 before they were all out in 45th over.
There were lots of positives for Norfolk to take from the day; the performances of the three debutants who all showed they have the potential to step-up, the excellent crowd and the many plaudits received in the feedback from the Kent party, members and supporters of both counties.
