Stand-in skipper Pete Gascoyne was the star as Cromer A pulled off an extremely impressive win at Diss to continue their promotion push in Norfolk League Division Three.
In a nail-biting finish, Gascoyne shepherded his nine-man side – hit by call-offs and holidays – over the finishing line with an over to spare, sealing a win that could prove crucial as the season reaches its climax.
Chasing 161, Cromer had patiently made their way to 122-3, Richard Graveling (47) and Charlie Webster, with a vital 36 after Luke Barrett had been criminally run out and John Battrick had lost his off-stump, picking off the bad balls with some handsome shots and cashing in on some erratic bowling from the home side. But Graveling and Webster both picked out Ward in the deep, and the innings was on a knife-edge as Gascoyne came to the crease.
As the Diss total drew closer the Cromer dressing room could barely watch, especially when Gascoyne, in his only misjudgement, dollied a catch to opposite number Crane at extra cover. But the Diss skipper somehow spilled the chance, and Gascoyne took full advantage. He finished with a gutsy 31*, and Nathan Taylor lofted over square-leg for the winning boundary.
Earlier, the Cromer bowling had taken responsibility for the scarce fielding resources available, and to a man delivered the goods. Battrick will bowl far worse for a bagful of wickets, and again produced some clinical bowling at the death; 15-year-old Alex Craske looked every inch the part with the new ball, and Webster skillfully bowled his twelve overs straight through in the stifling heat. Things could have been even better for Cromer, if Graveling had snaffled Williamson and Catalano early in their innings, though young Adam Field took a great catch off Webster to get rid of Williamson for 52. But again Gascoyne’s contribution proved decisive, applying the brakes with 4-16 off just six overs of canny bowling as Diss looked to accelerate.
So a great performance against the odds from the second XI, and a welcome home fixture against Norwich Union on Saturday to look forward to – hopefully this time with eleven men!
| Diss
M Williamson Ct Fields b Webster 52
C Barker Ct Wright b Craske 15
T Catalano Ct & B Webster 36
S Crane Ct Graveling b Craske 4
J Dawson Bowled Gascoyne 8
B Spinks Ct & B Gascoyne 6
K Gooderham Ct Barrett b Gascoyne 1
J Bell Bowled Gascoyne 10
B Cooper Not Out 9
C Atkinson Not Out 1
W Ward DNB
EXTRAS 21 TOTAL (for 8) 161
Bowling Battrick 12 4 29 0
Craske 10 1 47 2
Taylor 5 0 23 0
Webster 12 3 29 2
Gascoyne 6 0 16 4
Cromer
L Barrett Run Out 3
R Graveling Ct Ward b Bell 47
J Battrick Bowled Gooderham 7
C Webster Ct Ward b Bell 35
A Craske Ct Crane b Bell 3
P Gascoyne Not out 31
B Zelos Ct Spinks b Ward 0
N Taylor Not Out 4
A Fields DNB
EXTRAS 32 TOTAL (for 6) 163 Bowling
Gooderum 12 4 24 1
Bell 12 1 51 3
Ward 8 2 25 1
Williamson 6 1 21 0
Crane 2 0 14 0
Dawson 4 0 12 0
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