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Norton Loose Control Of Championship
| Author: Chris Bowmer | Published: 10th August 2014 14:33 |
The wicket at Wavendon Gate was wet from copious overnight rain (again) and Norton won the toss and elected to bowl, although there was always doubt whether the wicket would be easier to play on later if it dries.
Norton visited Milton Keynes for a crunch game in the South Northants Division One, Norton on top of the table playing MK Air in second, with four games left in the season a game which could be a League decider. Norton without this year’s star Yuill nevertheless had a decent side and expectations of a win.
The wicket at Wavendon Gate was wet from copious overnight rain (again) and Norton won the toss and elected to bowl, although there was always doubt whether the wicket would be easier to play on later if it dries.
Norton openers bowled well with control, there was some bounce and Jenkin (2-34) took the early wickets of MK Air’s openers, progress was slow with only 23 off the first 10 overs. The introduction of Wallis saw another wicket and Norton in control.
The MK Air middle order in the shape of Ashwin and Pandy decided attack was the best form of defence and started to play some shots. This was not without risk as Pandy was dropped early (a difficult low chance in the deep) which would have seen MK at 45-5 but they progressed on with significant luck, balls dropping into space where on another day they could have been caught.
The partnership took MK Air to heights they could not have expected and when Pandy fell for 52 and shortly after Ashwin for 36 MK Air had a decent score around 150. Finally a quick 28 from Karthic took MK to 180-9 a decent score on a wet wicket.
Norton started slowly but without the traditional loss of an early wicket, openers skipper Baker and Horley took the score on to 52 and although 15 overs were gone the required rate was still in control with wickets in hand.
The wicket seemed to be getting harder to bat on with exceptional movement and significant uneven bounce and the loss of Baker (19) and Horley (31) close together started to push the pressure on Norton. A couple more quick wickets and at 75-4 with 18 overs remaining the run rate was starting to get tough.
A brief flurry from Bodily (18) took Norton over 100 but the last 10 overs were a real struggle, most of the batsmen being unable to get bat on ball as it moved prodigiously. A final rush from Holton and Hayden took Norton to another bonus batting point but a disappointing loss.
The League table still very close with first to fourth only separated by 7 points, the Championship no longer in Norton’s own control.
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