Belhus Cricket Club have returned from the annual open-age summer tour of Norfolk, winning one of their four tour matches.
Belhus 244 all out
Norwich 239-7
Belhus entered the steamy couldron of the Old Hall Ground at Ingham to commence their 2018 summer tour. In this forty overs per side match, there were runs for Zak Wilson (62), Billy Winter (55) and Jake Wolfe (50). Rogers was the most successful host bowler with 3-45 while skipper Watson and Kemp took two wickets apiece. After the traditionally exquisite Norwich tea, New Zealander Jack Newby hit a sublime 102 for the hosts. Watson made 32, Rogers 29 and Stewart-Miles 34. But Belhus plugged away as Matthew Williams, captain for the day, bagged three wickets for 47 runs . Then Michael Cansdale bowled the pressure overs and picked up 3-19, assisted in no short measure by his skipper’s diving catch and a smart stumping by Sam Hall.
Belhus 190 all out
Vauxhall Mallards 191-3
Belhus were royally roasted in the heat at the Halvergate ground as the Vauxhall Mallards side brushed the tourists aside. Belhus batted first and made steady initial progress but nobody made more than Matt Doran’s 38. Zak Wilson added 36 and there were six other double figure totals but no big contribution. A collapse ensued from a relatively solid position of 146-4 to 190 all out with Brown taking 3-18, Smitt 2-22 and Bishop 2-13. The tourists were skittled in 35.2 of their allotted 40 overs. Mallards lost Bishop and Cropley early both for five runs apiece as Paul Whitlock and Matthew Williams struck early blows but this brought South African Smitt to the crease and he was in a hurry to close this one out. Hitting eleven fours and seven sixes, the assault was merciless as he totalled 102 from just 48 balls. In one particularly violent over he struck five sixes and one four – a total of 34 runs.
Belhus 124-8
Mattishall 125-7
Belhus took on Mattishall in an evening twenty overs per side match with seven players in excess of fifty years of age. Batting first, Michael Cansdale made 42, Jim Robertson contributed 20 and Zak Wilson added 15 as Belhus totalled 124-8 in their allotment. Spalding, Stolz and Gasto-Smith took two wickets apiece for the hosts. In reply, Mattishall had a more youthful line up and it proved successful. Hawkins contributed 31 and Gasto-Smith went two runs further to lead Mattishall to a deserved win in 17.3 overs. The Belhus bowling star was guest Archie Chipperfield, a Mattishall junior left arm bowler who returned fine figures of four wickets for 33 runs.
Belhus 235-8
Sprowston 238-3
Belhus ended their tour with another defeat on another stiflingly hot day as they visited the SCG (Sprowston Cricket Ground). Belhus batted first and posted a decent total from their 40 overs. Wayne Read top scored with 60, Mike Cansdale made a fine 54 and there were spirited efforts from Thompson (31), Zak Wilson (20), Jim Robertson (20), John Wilson (16 not out) and Cliff Cansdale (16). Ollerton was the lead bowler for the hosts with 4-24 while North pouched four catches. Sprowston sped to their target as the ageing Belhus side toiled in the heat. The top four home batsmen all reached the half-century mark. There were wickets for Michael Cansdale and Barry Ruck with 1-42 and 1-35 respectively but Belhus were glad to get out of the heat and into the bar as their tour came to a close after 29.4 overs.
