A dominant all round performance by Norfolk led them to an emphatic innings and 62 run victory over Bedfordshire CCC at Sprowston CC. Norfolk were in total control throughout the match and clinched victory inside two days.
Bedfordshire won the toss on Sunday morning and elected to bat first. There was an eventful first over of the match bowled by Andy Hanby. The first ball was clipped four, the second was edged for four between wicketkeeper and first slip and the third ball saw Hanby bowl Jake Tarling with a ball that nipped back. The fourth ball was a dot and with the fifth Danyaal Khalid was trapped LBW. The final ball was another dot.
When Brett Stolworthy followed up with the wicket of Oli Soames in his second over Beds were tittering on 11 for 3. There was a minor recovery in a stand of 34 between Nabil Moughal (28) and captain George Thurstance (43) before Moughall was well caught behind by Charlie Hood from the bowling of Callum Metcalf. Four runs later Metcalf helped himself to another pinning Zaid Faleel LBW for four.
The Norfolk seamers were rampant and Metcalf claimed another in an excellent spell when he bowled Matt Taylor. Next to get in on the act was Arthur Wilcox with the wicket of Joe Low and then Nathan Muggeridge bowled Thurstance who had provided some resistance in a 78-ball stay. Beds limped to lunch on 102 for 8.
After lunch Hanby returned to the attack to pick up the wickets of Abi Sakande the ex-Sussex and England under 19 and Jack Fuller as Bedfordshire were dismissed for 123.
In a powerful bowling performance on a good wicket Hanby had 4 for 38, Metcalf 3 for 29 and there was one apiece for Stolworthy, Muggeridge and Arthur Wilcox.
Norfolk began their response with debutant Enoch Uthayarajan opening with Muggeridge in place of skipper Sam Arthurton who was feeling unwell. The youngsters got the hosts off to a solid start with 44 for the first wicket before Muggeridge (28) was bowled by Sakande. The wickets of Ben Wilcox and Alfie Cooper followed to reduce Norfolk to 56 for 3 in 20th over. It was to be a wonderful partnership of 140 in 27 overs by Uthayarajan and Hood that set Norfolk the platform for a big score. Uthayarajan took full advantage of the opportunity presented to him in a brilliant knock of 87 (eleven fours and one six) before his stay at the crease came to end when he chopped a ball from leg spinner Joe Lowe onto his stumps.
Hood (83 n.o.) was playing very well and with Arthur Wilcox saw Norfolk to stumps on 239 for 4 after 62 overs.
On Tuesday morning the outstanding Hood completed his maiden century for the county, and with Wilcox had featured in a stand of 85 when he departed for 105. Norfolk had the perfect player in Arthurton coming in at seven and he supported Wilcox who brought up the same milestone as Hood with an equally impressive first century in Norfolk colours. Wilcox fell for 102 just before the Norfolk innings ended on 394 for 6 after their ninety overs. Arthurton was unbeaten on 42.
After lunch Stolworthy got Norfolk off to a good start when Beds batted again. He claimed the wickets of Moughal and Khalid in his first two overs to leave them firmly on the backfoot at 20 for 2. Tarling and Soames dug in as they tried to contain the Norfolk attack in a partnership of 66, but the heart was then ripped out of the visitors batting when they lost three wickets with the score on 86. Tarling (4) was smartly caught by Arthurton off Metcalf, Hami Qadri had Soames (27) LBW and Metcalf bowled Thurstance for a fourth ball duck.
Faleel (43) and Taylor (28) added 70 as Bedfordshire were trying to bring some respectability to the score. Both fell in quick succession with the wicket of Lowe sandwiched in between as Arthur Wilcox, Qadri and Metcalf claimed further wickets. Sakande (18) and James Fuller (20 n.o.) lifted the score to 200 before Wilcox and Metcalf wrapped up the innings on 209.
Metcalf who bowled superbly over the two days finished with 4 for 41 and there were two wickets each for Stolworthy, Qadri and Wilcox.
It was a match with many positives for Norfolk particularly from the excellent performances of their younger players who are growing in maturity.
Enoch Uthayarajan on his way to 87.
(photos taken by Adam Pryke)
Charlie Hood reaching his first Norfolk century.
Arthur Wilcox celebrates his maiden Norfolk hundred.
