Norfolk County Cricket V Shropshire 2024

Sunday 9th June – Match Report Vs Shropshire

A large crowd at Walcis Park, Great Witchingham, the biggest for many years for a Norfolk game, was treated to a run-fest in the NCCA Trophy Group 2 match against Shropshire, a crucial game in the group stage. On a superb cricket wicket, early on, there was something in it for the bowlers, but it also proved to be an excellent batting track, with 591 runs scored in 94.1 overs for the loss of nine wickets.

Norfolk won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first. The hosts got off to a flying start when opening bowler Andy Hanby dismissed the former Worcestershire duo Ollie Westbury and Tom Fell in consecutive deliveries in the fifth over, leaving Shropshire in early trouble at 6 for 2. First, Hanby bowled Westbury, and then, with his next ball, he trapped the professional Fell LBW to give Norfolk the perfect start.

George Hargrave, the young Northamptonshire second-eleven opening bat, was joined in the middle by Andre Bradford. The pair put on 168 for the third wicket, establishing a new highest third-wicket partnership for Shropshire in limited-overs cricket. Bradford, who had top scored 71 against Suffolk a week earlier, made 65, which came off 76 balls and included a six and seven fours. Hargrave, who had been in good form, hit a magnificent 152 from 129 deliveries, with three sixes and 17 fours, featuring a fourth-wicket partnership of 81 with his skipper Charlie Home. He became Hanby’s third victim when Alfie Cooper caught him with Shropshire on 255-4. Hargrave’s record-equalling knock meant he moved level with John Foster in the county’s record books for the highest individual score made by a Shropshire player in limited-overs cricket.

At one point, it looked as though Shropshire might get 320 plus, but some good bowling at the death by Hanby and Joe Everett kept them to 295 for eight from their 50 overs. Hanby was the pick of the Norfolk attack, taking 4-41, with Joe Everett claiming 3-61.

This was a challenging total, and Norfolk knew a positive start was vital. Cooper and captain Sam Arthurton ensured this was the case with a stand of 84 inside 17 overs before Cooper pushed a catch to Bradford off the bowling of Joe Stanley to depart for 42, which included five fours. Ben Wilcox joined Arthurton at the crease, and it was only a short time before Arthurton reached his half-century. With some excellent running between the wickets, the pair were taking the fight to Shropshire, and in the process, they were looking to set records of their own. It became a case of anything you can do, we can do better as they upped the tempo. After Arthurton brought up his century, Wilcox recorded his half-century. With some brutal striking, particularly by Arthurton, the pair led Norfolk to a famous victory as they reached their target from the first ball of the 45th over, a win that significantly improved their standing in the NCCA Trophy Group 2.

Arthurton, who played one of the best innings you will see in one-day cricket, finished unbeaten on 180 from 146 balls with 19 fours and 6 sixes to set a new Norfolk one-day record with the highest individual score for the county. This remarkable feat, surpassing the previous best of 164 by Stephen Plumb in 1986 against Lincolnshire, is a testament to Arthurton’s exceptional talent and determination. Twenty-year-old Wilcox, who finished on 64 n.o. from 65 balls, played a very mature inning in an unbroken stand of 212, considered the third highest second wicket partnership in Minor/National Counties one-day cricket history.

A delighted Norfolk Coach, Tom New, said, “That was a very special inning by Sam, and you will have to go a long way to see anything better. “Ben played a tremendous knock, and what a partnership that was! I am very proud of all the boys.”

Shropshire’s Head of Cricket Ed Home said, “Sam Arthurton never really gave us a look apart from maybe an early lbw shout. He played beautifully and paced their innings impressively.”

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