The season ended in huge disappointment as we were beaten by 84 runs in their final county championship game of the season at Hertford CC by Hertfordshire therefore virtually putting paid to their chance of winning the Eastern Division Two group. It will take a remarkable turn of events at Cleethorpes on Sunday, where Lincolnshire CCC will take on Cumbria CCC with the Imp County just six points behind Norfolk in the table, for Norfolk to top the group.
Sam Arthurton won the toss and asked Herts to bat on the first morning. The skipper’s decision was vindicated when Nathan Muggeridge found the edge of Arjun Patel’s bat to send a catch to Charlie Hood with the score on 13. Muggeridge followed up by bowling Hawkins in his fourth over before Callum Metcalf trapped David Burnell LBW to reduce the home side to 66 for 3.
Next to go, two runs later was Ben Clifford who became Metcalf’s second victim when he was caught by Enoch Uthayarajan. There was then a partnership of 67 between opener Dom Chatfield who was standing firm and Cole Seggery who became the first of Hami Qadri’s four scalps when he was caught by Arthurton. The same partnership removed Jack Plom leaving Herts on 141 for 6. There was then a renaissance for with Chatfield and Jacob Gordon adding 106 for the seventh wicket during which Chatfield had brought up his century. The compact Chatfield was once again proving to be a thorn in Norfolk’s side following his unbeaten 158 two years ago at Bishops Stortford.
Qadri supported by Andy Hanby then mopped up the tale as Herts were dismissed for 297 with Chatfield unbeaten on 152 from 249 balls including 22 fours. Qadri had 4 for 95 and Metcalf, Muggeridge and Hanby two wickets apiece.
The Norfolk response started disastrously with Arthurton LBW to debutant Jake Wickham from the first ball of the innings. Muggeridge (25) and Ben Wilcox (17) had moved the score along to 41 before the former was caught by Plom off Wickham. This prompted Norfolk to send in their debutant Max Brister as nightwatchman. He faced a challenging period but stood firm looking very solid. Unfortunately, Norfolk lost Wilcox to the last ball of the penultimate over of the day as he became Wickham’s third wicket. Stumps were drawn with Norfolk on 46 for 3 and much to do on day two to gain a first innings lead.
Alfie Cooper dominated proceedings on the second morning and after losing Brister (16) he had partnerships of 32 with Hood (15), 57 with Arthur Wilcox (28), 44 with Uthayrajan (22) and 66 with Hami Qadri (31) during which he brought up a magnificent century, his fourth in championship cricket for Norfolk. Cooper eventually fell LBW to Jake Wickham for 137 from 192 balls with 14 fours and 1 six. He had helped Norfolk to within seven runs of the Herts score.
The innings finally wound up when Norfolk were bowled out in the final over for 317 giving them a twenty-run lead. Wickham took 4 for 113 and captain/coach Ben Waring had 4 for 85 from 39.4 overs.
When Hertfordshire batted again Norfolk were soon in the ascendency as Hanby removed Patel and Hawkins with Muggeridge claiming the key wicket of Chatfield. All three were caught behind by keeper Hood to leave Herts stuttering on 26 for 3. They mounted a fightback with Burnell (24) and Clifford putting on 69 for the fifth wicket before Qadri gave Hood his fourth catch when removing Burnell. Hanby returned to the attack to trap Clifford LBW for 51as the day end with Herts on 127 for 5 and a lead of 107.
Day three started with Hanby trapping Seggery LBW from the first ball and then presented Hood with another catch to dismiss Plom (3) as he claimed his ninth five wicket haul in championship cricket. Gordon battled well but Hanby took his personal tally to six with the wicket of Davis. Qadri got his second and Brister collected his first championship wicket when the outstanding Hood took his sixth catch of the innings.
Hertfordshire were all out for 179 leaving Norfolk an awkward 160 for victory on a deteriorating wicket. Hanby finished with 6 for 69 and Qadri 2 for 46.
It certainly proved to be very tricky as Norfolk were soon in deep trouble. Arthurton chipped a catch to Waring third ball, Ben Wilcox ran himself out in the second over, Muggeridge was caught in the slips and Hood bowled by Wickham from the third ball he faced with Norfolk in total disarray on 19 for 4. Two further wickets were to fall before lunch which Norfolk reached on 40 for 6.
Norfolk’s last main hope rested in the hands of Cooper and Qadri but when Cooper was caught by Patel off Waring five balls after lunch the last rights were being played out. Qadri showed some fight with 5 fours in his 29 as Norfolk folded for 75.
Wickham and Waring both took four wickets again.
Whilst the season ended on a low there has been much encouragement throughout the summer. The continued development of the younger players, the emergence in recent weeks of batsman Uthayarajan and Brister who bowled with some pace unsettling the Herts batsmen which all provides great hope for next year.
Alfie Cooper who scored his fourth championship century.
Pictures by Adam Pryke.
Andy Hanby who took his ninth five wicket haul in championship cricket.
