Hales & Loddon (20 points) beat Bradenham (0) by 9 wickets

Hales & Loddon put Bradenham in to bat first after a delayed start due to rain on what looked like perfect conditions for bowling.

It became clear early on that it was a good toss to win with the opening pace attack of Mat Lovick and Rob Andersen totally dominating the Bradenham batsmen.

Bradenham were soon 27-5. There was a middle-order recovery with K Blakely scoring 46 before being caught behind. Bradenham, however, posted a very modest total of 101 which included 15 extras.

Hales & Loddon batted with a little trepidation at first after seeing how their bowlers had dominated. But with a drying wicket their worries became unfounded with openers D Harmer and S Arminger quickly getting into their stride and not looking like getting out.

With the match virtually won, S Arminger’s was the only wicket to fall. He was unlucky to glove a catch to the wicket-keeper for an excellent 41. D Harmer finished on 36 not out.

The Sprake and Kingsley man of the match could have gone to several players, but for his immaculate bowling spell that frustrated the Bradenham batsmen it went to Rob Andersen.

Bradenham: K Staggles b Lovick 9, R Thurley c-b Lovick 2, M Hunter c S Arminger b Lovick 0, B Stolworthy c Arminger b Andersen 2, P Dewing c Squire b Lovick 7, B Gates b Andersen 4, M Evans st Arminger b Nunn 15, K Blakey c Arminger b Nunn 46, S.Goodby c-b Nunn 0, A Bates b Baker 0, R Adcock not out 1.

Bowling: R Andersen 13-7-15-2, M Lovick 13-3-35-4, G Squire 4-0-20-0, C Baker 5-1-21-1, S Nunn 2-0-2-3.

Hales & Loddon: D Harmer not out 36, S Arminger c-b S Goodby 41, P Squire not out 1.

Bowling: B Stolworthy 7-2-15-0, A Gates 3-0-17-0, R Thurley 4-0-29-0, S Goodby 4-0-11-1, R Adcock 2-0-19-0, P Dewing 1.5-0-4-0.

Hales & Loddon A lost by three wickets against Cringleford Lodge despite an inspired performance by Kevin Jones, who bowled 12 overs for only five runs. The veteran left-arm seamer had produced 10 maidens and conceded only one run until the final ball of his unbroken spell was despatched for four. Cringleford Lodge eventually passed the Hales 139 for 9 based around 40 from the experienced Milton Lindsay and 40 not out from teenager Josh Knights, in the 42nd over.

Despite their modest total Hales had kept themselsves in the match by applying pressure on the visitors from the outset, maintaining focus in the field and with the ball throughout. Jones capped an outstanding display by running out N Patel for 27 with an Exocet-like throw from the boundary. At that point Hales’ hopes of their second win of the season were raised, but the incoming Lodge tailender had other ideas, despatching three consecutive deliveries for four in ungainly fashion. He was caught behind next ball, but terminal damage had been done to Hales’ hopes and J Wright (36 not out) was able to apply the finishing touch. MoM: Kevin Jones.

HALES and Loddon III lost to third-placed Hingham by 75 runs in Norfolk League Four. Hales lost the toss and after a brief shower they took the field. Opening duo Chris Read and Jamie Curtis started well with Read removing Andersen for 20.

A wicket for Curtis and Weston saw H & L get the score to 47, and it should have been even better when Jamie Curtis appeared to take a smart caught and bowled, only for batsmen Guy to insist he had hit it into the ground. The umpires didn’t see it, so he remained and made 58.

Hingham had made 180-6, but then good late spells from Glen Shipley 2-17 and Richard Dicks 2-20 – who both had hat-trick chances – saw Hingham bowled out on the last ball with three smart catches from Jamie Weston. The 217 score could, and should, have been less.

Skipper Dye decided to open with the balanced pair of Glen Shipley and Matthew Plummer. This worked superbly with 35 coming from the first five overs before Shipley departed for six. Plummer continued to frustrate the Hingham bowlers, racing to 47 from 14 overs before falling to Dicks. His knock contained 10 boundaries. Chris Ayre cracked a quick-fire 17, with Chris Read 15, again scoring well. At the end of the innings, Jamire Curtis entertained with some power hitting before he was run out for 22, leaving debutant Dicks not out on 14. H & L closed on 142 with Dye unable to bat due to a hand injury while fielding. It was a good bowling display.

C J Ball MoM: M Plummer.