Monday 1st May 2023
Some mixed results featured as the Norfolk League Season started for both teams this weekend.
Hardingham first XI had a successful start to the season at home to Castle Rising with a dominate display with both bat and ball. Having won the toss and electing to field, it proved a fantastic call, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Castle Rising's largest partnership was for the 5th wicket and that was only worth 41 runs as HCC bowled them all out for 95. The wickets were shared amongst the 5 bowlers with Subedi and Scott picking up 3 apiece, Capper 2 and Fernandez-Steele and Rowell 1. The only noticeable batting performace was Pushpendra Singh, scoring 31. In response, Hardingham chased it with ease, only losing the one wicket of Palmer for 39, with Sparkes (43*) and Watts (8*) finishing the chase with ease with 20 overs to spare and by a victory of 9 wickets.
Unfortuantly, fortunes were not the same for the 'A' team, who were suffered a convincing defeat at the hands of Castle Rising 'A'. Having won the toss and electing to field, HCC would have been happy with bowling Castle Rising all out for 175. However, it could have been less if weren't for a strong batting performance from Martin Mathew, scoring 72 with 2 fours and 5 sixes. Pick of the bowlers was J Fowle (6-1-9-3) and J Wade (6-1-35-2) with Kelly, Grant and R Fowle claiming one apiece and run outs from Wade and Hale. The response from Hardingham was not good as only J Fowle made double figures (13) as HCC were all out for 49. Martin Mathew, who already has had a fantastic day, picked up 3 wickets for the loss of 7 runs as well as A Mahmood finishing with figues of 3.4-1-4-3. A difficult day for the twos
The Sunday XI had more fortune against Sprowston. Having loss the toss, Hardingham were asked to bat first and would be disappointed to have 132ao on the board. With Britten (30) and J Fowle (23) top scoring for HCC. Wickets for Sprowston were shared about with Saravanamuttu, Randell, Newstead and Adams picking up 2, with Rehman and Payne picking up 1. Hardingham however, succesfully defended this score, with only McLaren setting a good scoring finish 35*. Wickets were shared amongst the HCC bowlers with Fernandez-Steele taking 3, Grant, Leicester and Gale 2 and K Palmer 1.
Fixtures this week:
T20 v Norfolk Rangers @ Kettingham Hall CC
First XI v Saham Toney @ Saham Toney CC
Second XI v Downham Stow 'C' @ Hardingham CC
Sunday XI v Aldborough Sunday's @ Hardingham CC