Round-up of local cricket

After winning the toss, stand-in skipper Gus Woodcock shrewdly invited Saxlingham to bat first.

Young opening bowlers James Nobbs (2-15) and Jack Baldwin (2-18) both bowled with plenty of thought, fully exploiting the helpful pitch conditions.

Sharp catches by Jeremy Rhodes, Kevin Ridley and Josh Warnes, backed up the bowlers and an excellent pick-up by Warnes, accounted for another wicket, this time a run-out, to leave the hosts struggling on 23-5.

Warnes helped himself to a further wicket before Woodcock introduced Vajahat Razzaq into the attack. Razzaq produced a fine spell of controlled swing bowling, deservedly getting 4-15, including the dangerous Neave who had offered some partial resistance with 19, to a diving catch by keeper Ian Holmes. Saxlingham’s innings finished on 84 all out in the 25th over.

In reply, Topcroft’s openers Baldwin and Ridely started positively, but despite looking well set, both departed in successive overs for nine and 20 respectively.

After Rhodes (4) retired hurt after a nasty blow in the face, any thoughts Saxlingham had of an unlikely victory were quickly snuffed out by an unbroken 50 partnership between Neil Twyman and Warnes. Twyman, in particular, was severe on anything wide of off stump, playing some aggressive cut shots in his 29, including five fours. He was ably supported by Warnes who finished on 16, as Topcroft eased to victory by eight wickets with incredibly some 48 overs to spare. This was an excellent all-round team performance by Topcroft, who remain on top of the division as the halfway point of the season approaches.

Saxlingham A: M Creasey b Nobbs 8, C Tweedy lbw Razzaq 15, T Bamber c Rhodes b Baldwin 0, R English lbw Nobbs 1, O Kilburn run out Warnes 2, F Benton c Warnes b Baldwin 0, C Neave c Holmes b Razzaq 19, M Hedges lbw Razzaq 14, J Brookes b Warnes 0, A Hook c Ridley b Razzaq 5, E Spencer not out 9; extras 11. Total (24.4 overs) 84. Bowling: J Nobbs 7-2-15-2, J Baldwin 7-0-18-2, V Razzaq 5.4-1-15-4, J Warnes 5-0-28-1.

Topcroft A: J Baldwin c-b Bamber 9, K Ridley c Hook b Brookes 20, J Rhodes retired hurt 4, N Twyman not out 29, J Warnes not out 16; extras 7. Total (16.5 overs) 85-2. Bowling: C Neave 3-0-14-0, J Brookes 6-2-16-1, T Bamber 5.5-0-37-1, F Benton 2-0-16-0.

HALES & Loddon CC held their first presentation evening at the green on Monday.

Main club sponsor Derek Barnard of Barnard Sports presented awards which have been sponsored by local firms.

Musker Mcintyre award Rachael Folklard, M and H Plastics award Richard Cook, extra award U11 Henry Payne, Evergreen’s family garden centre award George Sutton, C J Ball Motorcycle’s award Morgan Rusted, Barnard Sports award Charlie Duffield, Paravanni’s Ice Cream award Chris Read, Sprake and Kingsley award Josh Pitcher.

Manager of youth cricket Pete Dye thanked Karen Knights and her catering team for the barbecue and Jv and Michelle for the bar.

From July 7 the U13s will have their own training night on a Thursday to give more opportunities for the U11s to use the net facility on a Monday.

The club thanked all sponsors for supporting the youth awards, with the next presentation on July 18.

HALES & Loddon THIRDS lost to Old Catton A by 81 runs.

Catton batted strongly with wickets shared across the team as they posted a strong 240-4.

In reply, Jimbo Risebourgh top scored with 39, with Jamie Weston 30, continuing his fine form with the bat.

Rob Clemence, returning from injury, made 20 with Glen Shipley unleashing in a fine 15, which included a boundary.

H & L Thirds finished on 149 to gain five points as they continue to develop at a new level for the majority of the team.

Tomorrow, H & L 3rds return to George Lane to play Lowestoft B.

Alan Boswell insurance MoM: Jimbo Riseborough.

HALES & Loddon Sunday lost to Mattishall by 68 runs despite an excellent knock of 73 from 13-year-old Chris Read.

Mattishall chose to bat and lost Smith for five after a smart catch from AB at slip off the hostile Issac Rolph.

Wilby scored a quick-fire 32 before Chris Read out-thought him. Read picked up another as he finished his spell with fine figures of 2-13.

Goodley (59) and Grant (41) scored well but H and L fought back with Jack Cook 3-35 impressive with the ball but this couldn’t prevent Mattishall from finishing on a big score of 240-9.

H & L lost both openers with just two on the board but Chris Read started to play shots after recovering from a blow early on. While wickets tumbled, Read played superbly with his cover driving proving a valuable assest as he almost single-handedly kept the scoreboard ticking. He brought up his half-century, with a stunning off drive and then let loose to race to 73 before being yorked. His innings included 14 fours and a six.

Last pair Lewis White (26) and Andy Baker added 50, which took the total to 172 before White was caught behind for a career-best of 26 leaving Baker unbeaten on 29 as the players braved the elements to complete an entertaining game.

The JLS MoM: Chris Read.

HALES & LODDON A: The team’s all-rounder Graham Squire marked his return to action after a shoulder injury with an unbeaten half-century and a five-wicket haul as H&L A lifted themselves out of the Division One relegation places with a 63-run win at Drayton.

Squire hit a quickfire unbeaten 54 containing seven fours and two sixes to help a Hales innings dominated by veteran left-hander Milton Lindsay’s pivotal 75 containing 12 boundaries, to 210-5.

Drayton hammered 44 off the first seven overs but the reply ran out of steam as speedster Squire got into gear, eventually claiming five for 36 from 12 overs, with good support from young paceman Josh Knights, who took three for 20 in a fiery 8.2 overs spell. Ed Mead also bowled well, removing big-hitting Drayton dangerman Michael Mario Ghae, who was caught by skipper Andy Baker for an explosive 35.

Hales MoM: Graham Squire.

Ashby St Mary CC: City College came to The Meadow for a 20/20 encounter.

Batting first, Ashby’s batsmen scored at a rapid pace with some excellent running between the wickets. James and Colin both retired on reaching 25, Corrin made 23, Chubb 25 not out, Nic 14, Aaron 11. Final score 150-5.

The visitors replied with some great shots, assisted by some wayward bowling, 62 on the board in five overs, but wickets were falling.

The introduction of DD and Anton slowed the scoring right down, an all out total of 125 once seemed unlikely. Alan took three wickets, Chubb two, Mike two, DD two and Nic one. Yet another victory.

Sunday saw the second year of the Ashby 20/20 competition, Buxton and Old Catton joining in. The form was each side playing two games: Ashby 217-4 (Nic 73 not out, Aaron 44, DD 25, Colin 22 not out); Buxton 125 all out (DD 3 wickets). Buxton 103 all out, Old Catton 188-7; Old Catton 100 all out (DD 3 wickets), Ashby 83-9 (Colin 19, Aaron 15).

Old Catton were the winners. Thanks went to the three umpires Peter Wright, David Coe and David Pearce, and to those who made this a successful day.

GILLINGHAM hosted Diss B on Saturday, securing a seven-wicket Norfolk League Division Eight win after an enjoyable game played in an excellent spirit throughout.

Electing to field first on a dry wicket, Gillingham made early inroads into the Diss line-up with Cockings’ first two overs producing wicket maidens. Two wickets for Matt Smith reduced Diss to 39-4 before Diss opener Young (23), who had looked solid whilst wickets fell at the other end, nicked behind of Cockings. Brawn (18) played positively before being removed by Aldridge and was soon followed by Budds, Cable taking his third excellent catch in the slips. Atkinson (14) occupied the crease well, forming an effective partnership with top-scorer Goldsmith (24no), before becoming Aldridge’s third victim. Spinner Stevens claimed the ninth wicket before excellent work from Wentworth resulted in the run-out of Batley to end the innings, Diss making 125 from 39.4 overs.

The Diss new-ball bowlers finding significant movement and restricted scoring opportunities. Stevens departed early, misjudging a swinging delivery from the dangerous Ward (1-16) leaving Patrick and Liam Smith to build a platform. Scoring opportunities remained limited but both batsmen looked to rotate the strike well, gradually becoming more fluent. Smith brought up a patient half-century, continuing his excellent recent form before being bowled for 52, ending a partnership of 82 for the second wicket.

With Patrick continuing to anchor the chase, Aldridge was unfortunate to be bowled by a delivery which kept low, bringing Hoare (16) to the crease to muscle Gillingham past their target after 31.2 overs, Patrick having batted through for a chanceless 43.

ACSYS Laser Systems MoM: Liam Smith.

Diss B: D Young c Hoare b Cockings 23, S Davey c Britton b Cockings 0, M Brawn b Cockings 0, B Roberts c Cable b M Smith 4, J Dunning c Cable b M Smith 8, L Brawn c Cockings b Aldridge 18, E Budds c Cable b Aldridge 0, C Atkinson c Wentworth b Aldridge 14, B Goldsmith not out 24, W Ward c Hoare b Stevens 6, G Batley run out 6; extras 22. Total 125. Bowling: M Smith 10-3-34-2, J Cockings 12-5-27-3, J Aldridge 8-0-29-3, A Stevens 6-2-15-1, B Vickers 2-1-8-0, L Smith 1.4-0-8-0.

Gillingham: B Patrick not out 43, A Stevens b Ward 4, L Smith b Brawn 52, J Aldridge b Batley 1, T Hoare not out 16; extras 10. Total 126-3. Bowling: W Ward 8-3-16-1, L Brawn 7.2-1-25-1, B Goldsmith 5-0-21-0, G Batley 8-1-29-1, S Davies 3-0-28-0.