LODDON A travelled to Wortwell to play a 10 man Topcroft B in Norfolk League Division Nine and produced another brilliant team performance with some fantastic individual per-formances in a three-wicket win.

LODDON A travelled to Wortwell to play a 10 man Topcroft B in Norfolk League Division Nine and produced another brilliant team performance with some fantastic individual per-formances in a three-wicket win.

With the sun shining and a green pitch, skipper R Edmonds was happy when Loddon A were invited to field first.

A Wells and G Shipley opened the bowling, and performed well with little success. It was a moment of genius by A Aldred that got the first wicket in the sixth over, running out H Windridge when he could only see one stump.

A Wells tpicked up the next wicket, of P Holmes, smartly caught by M Shipley in close.

G Shipley bowled extremely well, swinging the ball late, but got no reward.

After the opening bowlers were seen off J Johnston and A Burroughs got stuck into the bowling, not allowing the change bowlers R Edmonds and A Aldred to settle.

T Jermy was brought into the attack with K Pitman, and it was Pitman who had the instant impact, getting J Johnston caught behind by J Perry after an excellent first over. He n followed that up with A Burroughs' wicket in the next over, hitting him straight in front with a full toss.

T Alexander provided some resistance in his six, while I Holmes started to take the attack. T Jermy bowled well, flighting the ball well, as there was little spin. He then got the breakthrough, getting T Alexander caught by M Edmonds.

K Pitman then took centre stage getting C Mattocks caught by a diving A Aldred, and N Twyman bowled comprehensively in the same over, both for nought.

I Holmes decided that it was time to increase the scoring rate with two wickets left, and 10 overs left. A Aldred and M Edmonds were left with the difficult job of bowling at the death in the final overs. Both bowled a good line and length and there was plenty of swinging and missing by I Holmes, but when he connected with the ball it often went to the boundary.

It was left to K Pitman to bowl the final over to see if he could get his fifth wicket, which he did with the second ball of the over.

This had been an excellent spell of fast bowling, with bouncers and Yorkers. He finished the last over with 5-21, an outstanding effort.

Topcroft's innings closed at 159-8, which was a god total on a pitch that was good for the bowlers.

After a brilliant tea Loddon A's openers, J Perry and N Reeve, began the chase for 160.

T Alexander, who had taken four wickets in the last game, was only able to bowl one over, when he injured his knee.

Change bowler A Burroughs got the early wicket Topcroft needed, bowling J Perry for five, who was beaten for pace.

N Reeve was quickly into his stride, showing the good form he was in. K Pitman looked good until he was bowled for seven by A Burroughs.

R Edmonds joined N Reeve and they were able to pick up singles with ease, keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

N Twyman kept changing the bowlers, but none could find a way of getting the batsmen out. N Reeve quickly brought up his 50 with a flourish of fours and sixes, while R Edmonds carried on supporting.

N Twyman's final change of bowlers was the experienced pair of J Johnston and I Holmes.

J Johnston almost made the breakthrough, but I Holmes was unable to hold onto a relatively simple catch. But, J Johnston soon had his man, N Reeve hitting a full toss straight to A Burroughs for a superb innings of 77.

With the score 135 for 3 off 35 overs, 25 was required off 10 overs, which should have been straightforward.

However in the 40th over R Edmonds tried to finish the innings off in style, but only succeeded in top edging his shot to I Holmes off J Johnston.

This brought about a middle order collapse. M Shipley, with the finishing line in sight tried get Loddon A home with a big six, but spooned the ball up to be caught and bowled by I Holmes.

A Aldred looked well set, playing some delicate dabs, but he top edged to J Buckland trying a fine sweep, off the bowling of I Holmes.

Not even “The Whelk” could see Loddon A safe, being bowled by J Johnston for three.

It was left to the young pairing of M Edmonds and T Jermy to see Loddon A home to 160 for 7, getting two singles off I Holmes's over.

Musker McKintyre Men of the Match are K Pitman and N Reeve. Both performances were equally essential in this successful Loddon A win.