Skipper Sam Arthurton won the toss and ask the hosts to bat first. Shropshire got off to a good start with Andre Bradford and the stylish George Hargrave putting on 77 for the first wicket before Hargrave was LBW to Hami Qadri for 41 in the eighteenth over. Bradford and Tom Fell the ex-Worcestershire batsman took the score to 143 when Fell was caught by Qadri off Brett Stolworthy for 44. Another former Worcestershire player Jacques Banton (7) brother of Somerset’s Tom departed next when he became Qadri’s second victim caught by Arthur Wilcox. Bradford’s patient innings of 69 from 113 balls came to an end when he was caught by wicketkeeper Charlie Hood from the bowling of Ethan Metcalf.
After the loss of two more wickets current Worcestershire player Jack Home (31 n.o.) and Cameron Jones (29 n.o.) lifted the final score to a challenging 262 with 37 runs from the last 3.2 overs. Qadri was the pick off the Norfolk bowlers with 2-45 and Ethan Metcalf also had two scalps.
A good start was vital if Norfolk were to chase down the Shropshire score and Sam Arthurton (42) and Finlay Wilcox with a composed 34 on debut added 75 in 16 overs for the first wicket. Both went close to each other and when Ben Wilcox was run out the early optimism was fading. Alfie Cooper and Ethan Metcalf (39) moved the score to 143 for 4 and it was a partnership of 56 in 7.4 overs between Cooper and Hood (33) that restored some hope for Norfolk. Arthur Wilcox (20) helped Cooper to his half century before he was finally bowled by Jones for 55. Norfolk needed 19 off 9 balls before losing their last three wickets to fall 7 runs short.
It was a gallant effort by Norfolk against a strong Shropshire side. Ben Roberts had 4 for 53 for the home side.
Link to the match scorecard Norfolk CCC