North Runcton beaten by Sprowston in NCB Summer League

North Runcton 186-8

lost to Sprowston 189-6

by four wickets

North Runcton suffered a second NCB Summer League defeat of a shortened season with the visitors claiming victory in the last over.

All had started brightly for the home side with the first three batsmen scoring quickly.

Jack Major looked in great nick before being caught one-handed by Tenjarla as he off drove Sam Niblett for 12

Mark Skipper joined Jon Forder and took the score to 64 off 12 before Forder was caught by Niblett off the spin of Matt Evans for 23.

George Rawlings joined the fray and also looked in good form, crashing Michael Eccles for two fours.

His innings was brought to a close when trapped leg-before-wicket by off-spinner Robert Purton for 14 with the score at 97-3 off 20 overs.

Ben Coote joined Mark Skipper and they took the score to 144 before Skipper was bowled by the Sprowston captain and third spinner for an attractive 63, which included eight fours.

From there on the scoring rate slowed as wickets fell cheaply.

Coote had to hold the innings together but when he was caught-and-bowled for 34 when trying to push the score along to leave Runcton on 175 for 7 off 37.

They lost Will Lankfer before Michael Skerritt and Joe Gent added another 11 to the innings end at 40 overs to set a total of 186-8.

The total was at least 30 runs short after such a promising start.

In reply, the visitors could sensibly take their time.

However, Ben Skipper made an early break through clean-bowling Chris Gayle for just one.

The Sprowston man-of-the-match Danny Palmer joined Purton and took the total to 46 before Purton was caught with a one-handed diving catch by Joe Gen,t off the spin of Jack Major.

Tenjarla was the next to go when he was brilliantly run-out by Runcton MoM Mark Skipper for 10.

However, Palmer remained at the crease, building an impressive innings.

He received valuable support from both Sam Hales and then Jamie Carter.

Hales was out leg-before-wicket to Callum Eke for 14.

Palmer and Carter upped the run rate but with them getting close Ben Coote struck twice in the 38th over. Palmer was out for 84 and Ollerton was bowled second ball for nought leaving the visitors needing four runs for victory.

This was achieved just two balls into the 39th over by Carter who finished unbeaten on 28.