Fakenham stay bottom despite win

PHIL BANYARD

28 July 2008

Fakenham stay bottom despite their 158-run win against Granta.

After losing two early wickets, Fakenham recovered thanks to the efforts of skipper Michael Smith, who made an unbeaten 121. Phil Gray added 46 as Fakenham posted 259 for seven.

Granta were soon in trouble as Ian Slegg and Sean Cooper took two wickets each to reduce the visitors to 60 for four.

Further wickets fell and it was left to youngster Daniel Hubbard to wrap up the win, as he collected three wickets, including that of top scorer Dahval Naik (40).

Cooper inspires first victory

30 June 2008

Sean Cooper led Fakenham to their first win of the season as Great Witchingham continued to falter on Saturday.

Fakenham remain bottom, but they have closed the gap on Witchingham to 11 points and can look forward with some optimism to the second half of the season after a 79-run triumph.

All of the top order batsmen contributed in Fakenham's total of 225 for seven, with Cooper top scoring on 45, while Michael Smith (38) and Paul Dunger (36) were also significant scorers.

Lance Shaw led the Witchingham bowling effort, taking three for 66 and Carl Rogers chipped in with a couple of wickets.

Rogers was dismissed early in the Witchingham reply, but they reached 50 without further loss. Cooper then dismissed James Spelman for 21 - and the Witchingham innings buckled.

Skipper Dennis Rogers managed 14, but that proved to be the top score until last man Stuart Evans hit a defiant 28. That was not enough to rescue Witchingham, who were all out for 146, Cooper finishing with six for 46.

Read on....Fire!

Mattishall U15s 35-10 Fakenham U15s 36-0

Mattishall won the toss and decided to bat... opening bowlers Terance Bird and Tanveer Singh bowled very well and runs were difficult to come by. Once Terance and Jake Betts took the early wickets, newcomer Tom Read destroyed the remaining Mattishall batsmen. taking five wickets for two runs. Fakenham were sharp in the field the only extras being wides and a couple of no balls.

Jacob Seed and Wills Dunger reached the target in just 5.3 overs

Best of the Bowlers (all of them)

Tom Read 3.4-0-2-5
Terance Bird 4-2-4-2
Jake Betts 3-1-4-2
Tanveer Singh 4-0-9-0

Batsmen

Jacob Seed 13 no
Wills Dunger 12 no

Man of the Match

Tom Read

Bird flying high!

Fakenham U15s 100-5 Dereham U15s 86-10

With a big change in the batting line up to try and score more runs earlier in the innings Jacob Seed and Captain Jake Betts opened the batting...Betts seemed to be batting well until a good ball from N. Cains got him... Terance Bird and Jacob batted well until Jacob hauled out... Liam Chase and Robert Steele held out and Fakenham just made it to 100... Dereham bowled very well.. but gave away too many extras.
Fakenham took an early wicket via a run out ..a direct hit from Tanveer Singh, the batsman slightly unfortunate as he ran his bat in he hit a hole in the pitch and dropped his bat.
After this Terance Bird clean bowled the next five batsman! a fantastic, quick and accurate piece of bowling... he was on a hatrick ball twice!
Wicket Keeper Jacob injured had to pass the gloves on... and a few too many extras were lost (Players now probably understand that keeping is not easy!)
At one stage Dereham were 11-6... some gritty batting from the tail J. Irons 25 and R. Mabee26.. batting at 8 and 9 nearly saw them through.. Tan took the final wicket.

Best of the Batsmen
Jacob Seed 23
Terance Bird 19
Liam Chase 9 no
Robert Steele 11 no

Bowlers
Terance Bird 4-1-10-5
Tanveer Singh 3.2-0-7-1
Jake Betts 4-1-8-1

Man of the Match Terance Bird

Under 11s Off to a flyer!

Gt Witchingham 258 for 5

Fakenham 275 for 5

A good solid performance with the bowling, and sharp fielding with lots of encouragement and chat.

Tight bowling from the start, with Lloyd Marshall and Thomas Hill only going for 1 run in first 4 overs, that was an extra (wide)

With good support from all other bowlers, Alex Caesari and Chris Beale showed good control.

A good batting display, with only a couple of blemishes. Jack Burton showed good patience and knocked the ball around very well with Thomas Hill.

Second pair of Tommo Yarham and Chris Beale gave good clues that Fakenham has a great future with its younger cricketers, showing good technique and steely presence.

Third pair of Lloyd Marshall and Harrison Futter show a display of controlled stroke play to push the score past Witchingham total.

With the last pair of Billy Yarham and Alex Caesari saw the game pushed beyond the reach of a competitive and very young Gt Witchingham side.

Sheringham Under 15s too good!

Sheringham U15s 146-2
Fakenham U15s 88-8

Sheringham under 15s showed their class in a one sided match that always looked to be difficult for the home side.. some supurb batting from the opening partnership of J. Taylor (43) and J. Moy (16) both batting well until Moy was tempted into a shot outside the leg stump from a ball by Terance Bird which took the edge and was caught behind. S. Taylor arrived at the crease and did not look in trouble going on to make a superb 50 Not Out (Retired)

The Fakenham side let their heads drop.. and went quiet in the field and mistakes were made.. a lesson to be learned that in Cricket you should never give up!

Fakenham were also skittled out by some good bowling.. some resistance from Captain Jake Betts (25) and Aaron Riseborough (11)

Sheringham look like the side to beat in this competition... Good luck to them in the next Round.

Under 15s Win on Last Ball!

Under 15s v Sprowston
Sprowston 87-4
Fakenham 88-6

After a delayed start, Sprowston won the toss and decided to bat. Newcomer Tanveer Singh bowled A. Mason in his second over with a ball swinging away to hit the top of off stump. The batsman started to get on top until Spinner Yin Lo removed the other opener. M. Rush was batting well until Will Dunger bowled him on 29.
Late on Edward Harvey bowled a good length, forcing the batsman down the wicket.. the offspin turning sharply deceiving the batsman and wicket keeper Jake Seed swiftly removed the bails.

Fakenham started slowly.. losing early wickets.. Sprowston were sharp in the field running out Ryan Bird without scoring.... Will Dunger pushed the pace along well, falling for 27.. another lean spell of runs... the light now fading fast was making playing conditions nearly impossible... Fakenham needed 14 off the last 2 overs.. Captain Jake Betts and Jacob Seed batted well and the final over they required 8 runs...A flourishing drive from Jacob saw 3 runs and some sharp running between the wickets left the pair requiring 3 from the last ball.. the pressure got to the bowler who launched a beamer at Jake Betts hitting him on the shoulder ..no ball called.. wicket keeper did not see it either and in the confusion "Jake and Jake" ran 2!

Pick of the Players
Bowlers
Tanveer Singh 4-0-10-1
Aaron Riseborough 3-1-4-0
Edward Harvey 1-0-3-1

Batsman
Will Dunger 27
Jake Betts 4 no
Jacob Seed 6 no

Fakenham bolster their batting strength

02 May 2008

Fakenham director of cricket Colin Brassett.

Fakenham, who managed to stave off relegation by winning their EAPL play-off against Sudbury at the end of last season, have strengthened their batting department after a string of humiliating low totals in 2007.

Norfolk wicketkeeper Stephen Gray has persuaded his brother, Phil, to leave Essex Premier League side Buckhurst Hill and link up with his sibling at Fakenham.

Batsman Richie Williams, an RAF colleague of Fakenham's Shaun Cooper, has also joined and Keegan Deridder, an Australian with a British passport, is another new batsman in the Fakenham ranks.

On the bowling front, Fakenham will hope Norfolk seamer Ian Slegg overcomes a back injury for tomorrow's visit of Clacton, although he may have to sit out the opening fixtures.

With South African Michael Smith returning for his third year at the club and a new director of cricket, Colin Brassett, in place, hopes are high that Fakenham will fare much better this year.

Chairman Martin Turner said: “We will definitely be stronger. We don't want to be playing in the bottom places again, we want to be mid-table or even higher. Everybody is keen and raring to go.”

New direction for Fakenham cricket

Colin Brassett (front), Fakenham CC's first director of cricket, with chairman Martin Turner.

24 January 2008

A bold double target of challenging for the East Anglian Premier League title and bringing through a new breed of rising stars has been set by Fakenham Cricket Club as it enters a new era.

For the first time in the club's history it has appointed a director of cricket - and officials hope Colin Brassett can help push the set up to new heights.

Brassett is the West Norfolk cricket development officer based in King's Lynn and has also started a successful youth set-up at Stow.

He has great hopes for at Fakenham and “aims to get the club to achieve its potential.”

And club chairman Martin Turner believes Brassett can be the catalyst to ensure Fakenham's ambitions are realised.

“The club has big ambitions, and having a director of cricket is something we have looked at for two to three years, and we made a conscious decision this year to find the person.,” he said. “We want to bridge the gap between youth and seniors and we want to be the focus club for north Norfolk.”

Turner said challenging for the EAPL title was one aim, along with seeing the other teams gain promotion through the leagues.

“Colin has a proven track record. He wants to set up an academy and bring through talented players and groom them for better things,” he said.

Brassett said: “It is a big club and my job is to get it to reach its potential.

“There are big gaps between the first team and second team and then the third and fourth teams. My job is to close the gaps and it is an exciting challenge.”

Players get the chance to meet Brassett at an extraordinary general meeting tomorrow at the Highfield Lawn clubhouse, 7.30pm.

As well as the EAPL team, Fakenham has three other senior teams plus youth sides - and an estimated 170 players involved.

Overseas player South African Michael Smith will be returning this year.

As well as the appointment of Brassett, Fakenham is also looking forward to having four outdoor artificial nets at Highfield Lawn.

Nets start on February 3, and anyone wanting more information on the club can ring Turner on 01328 863380, e-mail info@fakenhamgardencentre.co.uk or visit the club website: www.fakenhamcricketclub.co.uk