Norfolk travelled to Louth to take on Lincolnshire in two T20 matches on Sunday. They were without skipper Sam Arthurton who was unwell, so vice-captain Ben Wilcox took over the reins for the day. Wilcox won the toss for the first game and elected to bat first.
On a wicket with some indifferent bounce, Norfolk lost stand in opener Freddie Fairey with 9 on the board. Ethan Metcalf and Ben Wilcox moved the score to 43 before Metcalf departed for 21 when he was caught by Ben Jones from the bowling of Tom Currie. Wilcox and Alfie Cooper had got the total to 88 in the 12th over when Wilcox was run out for 31. Cooper was then stumped by Tom Keast off Joe Pocklington for 18. Charlie Hood in his normal busy style made 23 in quick time including three fours as Norfolk lifted the final total to 140 for 7 from their twenty overs.
Whilst not a big total it was felt it would provide a testing challenge assuming Norfolk could bowl and field well.
The home side got off to a steady start with Ben Wright and Pocklington adding 30 for the first wicket in five overs before Wright (12) was caught by Hami Qadri from the bowling of Ethan Metcalf. Pocklington (20) soon followed him back to the pavilion as Arthur Wilcox took a catch off Brett Stolworthy’ bowling. Lincolnshire were finding it hard to force the scoring against some disciplined bowling from the Norfolk attack which was backed up by some excellent fielding. Debutant Jones played well for his 42 before he fell to a smart catch from Andy Hanby to give Ethan Metcalf his second wicket. There was a lot to do for Lincolnshire in the last five overs as they needed 49 to win and alas the Norfolk bowlers held the upper hand as they restricted the Imp County to 130 for 3 to record a ten run victory.
As is often the case the second match was a totally different affair. Lincolnshire won the toss and batted first. They had got off to another decent start with Pocklington and Wright putting on 35 for the first wicket inside five overs. Wright was then caught by wicketkeeper Hood off Stolworthy for 18. The Norfolk fielding was not up to the standard set in the first game and a costly missed catch with Pocklington on 12 proved crucial as he went on to make 93 ably supported by Jones who made another 41. Pocklington fell to a truly stunning catch in the deep by a diving Ben Wilcox from Hanby’s bowling which was in sharp contrast to the rest of the Norfolk fielding. With the score on 170 Jones was run out and then Hanby followed up with the wicket of Tom Keast next ball.
The Lincolnshire score ended on 176 for 4 after their twenty overs.
Norfolk knew that a quick start was needed if they were to get in a position to chase down the imposing victory target, but they were soon on the back foot as Fairey departed in the second over followed by Ethan Metcalf five balls later reducing Norfolk to 9 for 2. The inform Alfie Cooper and captain Wilcox put on 81 in just over ten overs but both departed with the score on 90. First Wilcox was stumped by Keast as he advanced down the track to Pocklington for a well-constructed 49 and then Cooper (27) fell to a catch by Pranav Pothula from Tom Shephard’s bowling.
Despite a breezy 22 from Hood including one big six that landed on the club house balcony Norfolk fell well short on 129 for 9 when their overs ran out.
Links to the scorecards for the two matches Norfolk CCC and Norfolk CCC