It was a disappointing day as Norfolk’s defence of the NCCA T20 Cup came to an end in front of a large crowd at Sprowston CC.
In the morning game Bedfordshire CCC beat Shropshire CCC by 12 runs to set up the afternoon decider with the hosts, Norfolk. Batting first Beds posted 170 for 7 with Scotland A player Jamie Dunk top scoring on 57. He was supported in a stand of 94 by Theo Robinson who scored 49.
The Shropshire response never really threatened to chase down the score, and they were indebted to 71 from Andre Bradford as their innings closed on 158 for 9.
Norfolk skipper Sam Arthurton won the toss and decided to bat first against Bedfordshire. Arthurton (11) and Freddie Fairey (16) put on 20 for the opening wicket before further wickets started to tumble at regular intervals due to a fine spell by James Anson who took 3 for 16 as Norfolk fell to 40 for 5. Oscar Phillips picked up the other two wickets.
Arthur Wilcox and Hami Qadri set about trying to repair the damage and in a stand of 88 they provided Norfolk some optimism. Wilcox struck four fours and one six in his 43 before he was caught by Archie Houghton from the bowling of captain Jake Tarling. Four balls later with the score 134, Qadri became the third victim for Phillips when he was caught by Houghton for 38 which included three fours.
The Norfolk innings wound up on 139 for 7 which was never likely to be enough if Beds batted well.
Norfolk needed to get off to a strong start in the field and there was some hope in the third over when Fairey took a stunning catch on the boundary edge off Andy Hanby to dismiss Tarling with the score on 13. This brought Dunk to the crease, and he played with great authority in an impressive batting display. Dunk had put on 26 with Robinson (16) when keeper Hood took excellent stumping off Qadri. He then added 43 with Zaid Faleel, taking the score along to 83 before Faleel was LBW to Wilcox.
That was to be Norfolk’s last success as Dunk and Nabil Moughal steered Beds to their victory target at the end of 18th over. Man of the day Dunk finished unbeaten on a superb 79 and Moughal was 22 n.o.
Bedfordshire go through to Finals Day on 30th August at Wormsley where the other three teams will be Staffordshire, Berkshire and Devon.
Arthur Wilcox on his way to a top score of 43 – photo taken by Adam Pryke
Hami Qadri hits out in his innings of 38 – photo taken by Adam Pryke
