On another warm day at Sprowston CC Sam Arthurton won the toss and asked Cumbria CCC to bat first in the NCCA Cluberly County Championship three-day encounter. His decision was vindicated in the first over the match when with his fifth ball Andy Hanby trapped Tom Fraine LBW. The score had moved onto 34 when Nathan Waterson (12) was adjudged LBW to Brett Stolworthy. The same bowler followed up in his next over with the wicket of Ed Wade (21) who was caught behind by keeper Charlie Hood. It was Callum Metcalf who was next to get in on the act when he bowled Lancashire 2nd eleven player Ben Walkden (10) to reduce the visitors to 45 for 4.
Cumbria then mounted a fightback and owed much to former Cheshire batter Calum Rowe’s diligent 43 on championship debut for his new county and 34 from stand in captain Matt Sempill in a fifth wicket partnership of 70. It was former Derbyshire and Kent off-spinner Hamidullah Qadri who turned the game in Norfolk’s favour as he took four wickets to help Norfolk dismiss Cumbria for 172. Wicketkeeper Sam Bates contributed 35 from number eight.
The Norfolk bowlers all put in a good stint in hot conditions with Qadri taking 4 for 37 and Stolworthy, Hanby and Metcalf claiming two wickets apiece.
In response Norfolk started well with Sam Arthurton (54) and Nathan Muggeridge opening with a partnership of 87. Muggeridge and Alfie Cooper then added 40 for the third wicket after Arthurton and Ben Wilcox, who was stumped for a 19-ball duck, departed in quick succession. Norfolk ended day one on 136 for 2 just 36 runs behind Cumbria with eight wickets remaining.
Monday morning saw Muggeridge reach his half-century before falling to LBW to Walkden for 57. Cooper then took control playing superbly to bring up his third Norfolk century finally falling to a catch by Waterson off Freddie Fallows for 120 which contained thirteen fours and one six from 157 balls.
There was a late flurry with some excellent hitting by youngster Enoch Uthayarajan (39) in only his second championship match and Qadri who struck two big sixes and a four in his 19 as Norfolk’s innings ended on 351 for 8 to give them a first innings lead of 179. Importantly they gained a maximum four batting points to go with their four bowling bonus points. Fallows had his second five wicket haul for Cumbria.
When Cumbria batted again opener Nathan Waterston could be forgiven if he had a sleepless night on Monday as he ended the second day needing one run to complete a maiden Championship century. Cumbria were 197 for 5 at the close so in effect 16 for 5 leading into the final day. Hanby and Stolworthy had both claimed two wickets early on as Cumbria slipped to 35 for 4, but Waterston repaired the damage, first in a fifth wicket alliance of 110 with his captain, Matt Sempill (45) and then with an unbroken sixth wicket stand of 52 with Max Winskill (21 not out).
Day three saw Waterson bring up an excellent century as Cumbria battled hard in sweltering heat. Winskill was the first wicket to fall with the total on 212 when Hanby trapped him LBW. Waterson eventually went when after nearly five hours at the crease, facing 210 balls, hitting sixteen fours and one six, he fell to Qadri for 117 with the score on 257. By now the hard-hitting Fallows was getting into his stride and he had reached 69 when he edged a ball to Hood from Hanby’s bowling. The innings then wound up on 326 one run later as Hanby claimed the final wicket of Sharp for another five wicket haul the eight of his championship career.
Norfolk needed 148 for victory with plenty of time on their side. Hanby had 5 for 79, with Stolworthy and Qadri two wickets each.
Arthurton and Muggeridge ensured there would be no early scares adding 51 for the first wicket before Muggeridge nicked a ball to keeper Bates off Sam Sharp’s bowling. Ben Wilcox fell to the same bowler but that was to be Cumbria’s last success as the dominant Arthurton (69 n.o.) recorded his second half-century of the match. He was supported by the equally commanding Cooper who followed up his ton with 53 n.o. to see Norfolk comfortably home to an eight-wicket victory inside 38 overs.
Alfie Cooper on his way to a brilliant third century for Norfolk – picture taken by Adam Pryke
Andy Hanby with another five-wicket haul for Norfolk – picture taken by Adam Pryke.
