Fakenham cricketers find a winning formula

Fakenham's Ian Slegg holds onto a slip catch in the Alliance win over North Runcton.

20 May 2010

Fakenham Cricket Club's scene came to life on Saturday with four wins, at East Anglian Premier League, Norfolk Alliance and West Norfolk League levels.

Fakenham moved off the bottom of the EAPL with their first win of the season, a six-wicket triumph at Clacton, Sri Lankan Gayan Wijekoon stepping off a plane on Friday to make an immediate impact.

Angus Stuart and Wijekoon gave Fakenham the perfect start after skipper Sean Cooper had won the toss as they tore through the Clacton top order, leaving them 31 for six. The hosts limped to 80 all out in the 39th over, Stuart claiming four for 12, Wijekoon three for 15, Cooper two for 11 and Sanjaya Rodrigo one for nought.

Fakenham also suffered a nightmare start, losing James Hill and James Brown, both without scoring. But Wijekoon (37) joined forces with Rodrigo (27) and their stand of 58 proved decisive as Fakenham won in the 24th over.

At Highfield Lawn, Fakenham's Alliance Division Two side had an impressive nine-wicket win over North Runcton A, who batted first an made only 96. The wickets were well shared between A King two for 20, T Hood two for 27, I Slegg two for nine, K de Ridder two for 17 and R Savoury one for 16. Fakenham cruised to 98 for one (P Dunger 17, B Whitwood 37no, de Ridder 37no).

Skipper Paul Dunger was pleased for Savoury and Hood who he described as young players typical of the future of the club. “Both have worked very hard. It shows what constant hard work and training can achieve.”

In West Norfolk League Division Two, Fakenham (64 for one) easily beat a depleted Sheringham (59) while the Division Four team (116 for six) won at Northwold (115) with Yin Lo taking four for 10.

There was some big hitting from Will Dunger for Fakenham U15 in their Andy Seeley U15 Trophy win over Mattishall.

He cracked 164 no in the 20-over-a-side match out of 207 for four. He did not offer a chance getting to his century, completed in the 13th over, then saw two catches dropped as he really started to hit out. He has just turned 15, and the side containing six under-13s.

Team manager Paul Dunger, said of his son Will: “His very mature innings showed the benefit of regular nets with adults and reflected the standards at which he has been playing and watching cricket.”

Brisk Bushell puts Suffolk to sword

Norfolk Over-50s enjoyed a five-wicket triumph against local rivals Suffolk at Halvergate. Suffolk won the toss and batted, but were undone by the pace of Keith Bushell (four for 24), while spinner Andy King took three for 16 and Ian Bix claimed two wickets as the visitors were all out for 118.

Norfolk lost five wickets in pursuit of that target, but Martin Pearse (42) and Dickie Sayers (20) helped them achieve victory in the 33rd over.

Fakenham move off the bottom

Fakenham moved off the bottom with their first win of the season, a six-wicket triumph at Clacton.

Angus Stuart and Gayan Wijekoon gave Fakenham the perfect start as they tore through the Clacton top order, leaving them 31 for six.

The hosts limped to 80 all out in the 39th over before Fakenham also suffered a nightmare start, losing James Hill and James Brown, both without scoring.

But Wijekoon (37) joined forces with Sanjaya Rodrigo (27) and their stand of 58 proved decisive as Fakenham won in the 24th over.

Fakenham miss key players on first day

28 April 2010

Fakenham, under-strength for their opening East Anglian Premier League match of the season, suffered a disappointing home defeat by Saffron Walden.

Batting first, Fakenham failed to reach three figures as they were bundled out for 95 after being asked to bat on a strip that produced early movement.

The visitors' bowling attack was too much to cope with as Darren Cousins claimed five for 44 and Tim Smith was in miserly form taking three for four from nine overs with seven maidens. Phil Gray made 22, Sanjaya Rodrigo 21 and Will Dunger 15.

Fakenham tried gamely to make it difficult for Saffron Walden with the ball as former Norfolk bowler Ian Slegg picked up three for 12 bowling off his shortened run-up.

But the Essex side made it over the line for the loss of five wickets with opener Tom George hitting 36 not out as the visitors collected 25 points to Fakenham's two.

After their failure to sign Indika de Saram, Fakenham have recruited another Sri Lankan Test player, Gayan Wijekoon, as their overseas star and skipper Sean Cooper has high hopes for the new arrival: “We'd like him to consolidate our side with the experience he has as a bowler and a batsman,” said Cooper.

“He's an all-rounder who can coach both aspects of the game and help the youngsters develop and that is crucial for us.”

If he manages to beat the volcano dust problem, he should arrive in this country today (Thursday).

Fakenham showed a marked improvement last year upon the two previous campaigns, when they had finished rock bottom, and their second team also celebrated winning Norfolk Alliance Division Three.

Cooper added: “We are really looking forward to this season after the success the club had as a whole last year. All four senior sides had good seasons.”

Wicketkeeper Ben Harvey has returned from Great Witchingham, but Cooper will have to make do with a depleted side for the early part of the summer, with a string of his young players away at university and others suffering injuries.

Harvey will miss the early games, along with Joe Pipkin and Daniel Hubbard, while James Brown will not return from a new job in Amsterdam until later in the summer.

Norfolk wicketkeeper Stephen Gray should be available despite his studies and Fakenham are also looking forward to seeing more wickets from Angus Stuart, whose debut season at the club last year was hampered by injury. New signing from Horsford Luke Findlay could be out long term with a knee injury.

Everyone should be more availble next year, the third of the club's

three-year plan to build a title-challenging side.

On Saturday, Fakenham visit Bury St Edmunds. The Alliance Division Two side entertains Saxlingham 1pm.