Cromer continued their winning ways when they travelled to mid table Belton.
Belton have been a bit of a bogey side recently, and so it was with some trepidation that Cromer arrived at Southtown Common on Saturday.
Yet another winning toss, and Cromer chose to bat on what looked a good wicket.
Cromer were a much changed side, with both Gascoyne and Webster arriving from the 1st team, Wright and Lithins making the opposite journey, last weeks hero Dickens unavailable and Turner, opening with Gascoyne, back from his weekend off.
What looked like a perfect opening pairing of youth and experience lasted just 3 overs and by six overs both openers were back in the pavilion, Gascoyne caught behind and Turner leaving one that cut back and clean bowled the young opener.
Barret and Regis settled things down and were looking comfortable against a very good opening attack in Plummer and Jackson, until in the 12th over Regis contrived to cause a run-out and Barrett was left stranded on 14.
With the arrival of the experienced Graveling, the new partnership set about repairing the damage, and what a job they did, putting on a stand of 211 runs in 30 overs, Regis hitting 16 boundaries in a superb 101 and Graveling 12 in his 97.
The Belton first and second change bowling was not up to that of the opening pair, but nevertheless Regis and Graveling both played well, punishing the bad balls and keeping the scoreboard moving.
Cromer finished on 249 from 45 overs
After tea it was over to the opening bowling of Battrick and Regis. Regis soon recovered from his exploits with the bat but Battrick initially struggled with the his run-up on the raised square and unusually the pair went for 54 from the initial opening salvo; however they had also taken two wickets both bowled by Battrick.
Belton faced a huge task, and it was clear from the outset that they had no intention of going down without a fight.
The pace of Cromer’s attack was only going to help Belton, so Van Greuning called upon the leg spin of David Turner and the swing of Webster and was immediately rewarded. In the next 10 overs the pair removed seven batsmen for 58 runs, and in the process wrapped up a maximum 26 points. The win was completed when Alex Craske needed just 2 balls for Battrick to do the honours in catching the last man and securing a victory by 133 runs.
A much need 26 points from a game played in good spirit from both sides, and Cromer are now level on points and average with second-placed Kirkley.
Man of the match to Regis for his ton, but Graveling hot on his tail.
That was the halfway point in the league, and next week sees the first of the return fixtures with Cromer travelling to Loddon hoping for more of the same.
| Cromer
P Gascoyne Ct Plummer 3
D Turner Bld G Jackson 2
L Barrett Run Out 14
K Regis Ct & Bld Plummer 101
R Graveling Bld G Jackson 97
C Webster Bld G Jackson 1
J Battrick Not Out 5
A Van Greuning Not Out 2
A Craske Dnb
G Zelos Dnb
N Taylor Dnb
Extras 24 Total 249 For 6 Wkts
Bowling
P Plummer 11 1 31 2 S Day 2 0 21 0
G Jackson 11 0 51 3
R Gorham 6 0 34 0
G Moar 6 0 24 0
T Knight 3 0 30 0
Belton
S Day Ct Barrett Webster 42
R Gorham Bld Battrick 3
G Jackson Bld Battrick 9
P Plummer Bld Webster 11
J Patel Bld Turner 0
T Knight Bld Turner 15
P Hodds Bld Webster 3
C Ashling Bld Webster 0
D Jackson St Barrett Turner 0
G Moar Ct Battrick Craske 19
K Jackson Not Out 4
Extras 10 Total 116 All Out
Bowling
K Regis 7 0 29 0
J Battrick 6 0 24 2
C Webster 5 1 22 4
D Turner 5 0 36 3
A Craske 0.2 0 0 1
|