C Team Steamroller Garby

Garboldisham C (147 ao) 3 points  lost to Great Melton C (150/1) 24 pts by 9 wickets at The Langley in the Norfolk League Division Four South

Great Melton’s C Team displayed the tremendous playing strength at the mature end of the club with a juggernaut display which flattened their hosts on yet another gloriously sunny afternoon.

Whilst some clubs struggle to put out two sides – local rivals Mattishall failed to fulfil their second team fixture giving Melton’s A team a watching brief at the Park – the elder statesmen of Great Melton proved there is a desire to not only continue playing, but to play a strong attacking game, even in the 4^thteam.

Losing the toss was not an issue, as Gary Coulson (0/39) and Leo de Salis (5/25) kept things tight for the first dozen overs, the latter picking up a brace to add to his huge tally of victims.

Clive Rennie (1/26) proceeded to bamboozle the hosts with his wily mix of off cutters, sliders, seamers, wrong ‘uns and mystery spin, trapping Peter Bray (11) and inducing Tom Ling (17) into a desperate run, falling a foot short thanks to Jon Ellse’s pick and thrown on the turn.

In the field, Jon Ellse and Leo de Salis were displaying safe hands and no lack of agility to takefour of the seven catches between them, and Michael Wormstone was both a whippet and a magnate in the deep, cutting off many a boundary to frustrate the batsmen.

David Thorne (17) and Dan Whiting (20) gave brief cameo resistance, bit no more.

Alice Greenslade (0/18) kept the runs down in her short spell, but Steve Phoenix (2/27) struggled with the slope, prompting an early return to the action for de Salis in a rare split spell. He removed the dangerous looking Thorne assisted by a swift Steve Clarke stumping before completing his 3^rdfifer of the summer. Though Tom Corroboy (31*) manfully farmed the strike for a while with Lydia Raven, Duncan Greenslade induced the mistake to leave the hosts shy of a competitive total.

With Michael Wormstone (30) and Steve Clarke (51*) in obdurate moods, and Jon Ellse (58*) ready to punish anything, the visitors made light work of their reply.  The opening pair put on 67 in 15 overs after watching carefully for the first 4 overs and refusing to be drawn into anything rash.

Jon was at his merciless and belligerent best, hammering two sixes over mid on and mid off – the second hitting his own car despite his loud warning.  From 24 off his first 5 scoring shots, he slipped easily through the gears driving and pulling his way to a 4^thhalf century of this lovely summer, and deservedly pick up both man of the match and champagne moment votes as the game finished with 14 overs to spare.

Tom Corroboy’s 10 over spell cost a mere 23, with David Thorne looking lively in his five over stint for just 10.

Club President Nick Evans-Loombe spent the innings sat happily padded up watching the carnage, discussing future plans with the Chairman, as youth players Becky and Alice lounged in the back of their car.  Alice led the post match fines as the generations mixed easily basking in the strong display, safe in the knowledge that this club is not only well run, but well supported with a strong future even from those players whose careers and stats create long shadows.

For full Play-Cricket scorecard click this link: http://greatmelton.play-cricket.com/website/results/3564237

Leo DeSalis