Pell selected for NCCA Trophy opener

KIERAN Pell will make his competitive debut for Suffolk in Sunday’s NCCA Trophy match away to Norfolk.

The 21-year-old, who made his bow in last Sunday’s 37-run friendly loss to Bedfordshire at Bury St Edmunds CC, is named in the side to face the holders at Fakenham CC.

Pell, who was born in Chesterfield and has represented Leicestershire 2^nd XI, is playing as a professional at Woolpit CC this season. He is pictured above batting for Suffolk last Sunday.

He will most likely bat at No.4 in place of the unavailable George Rhodes, as Suffolk get their Group 2 fixtures under way.

Seam bowlers Raj Singh and Matt Clark, who were involved in last Sunday’s match at the Victory Ground, both miss out.

Archie Miller, a young left arm spinner who is part of the Suffolk Young Cricketers’ pathway, has been named as 12^th man.

Suffolk were the only side to defeat Norfolk on their way to winning the competition last season, the hosts emerging 19-run winners in a see-saw group game at Sudbury CC.

Head coach Adam Mansfield is looking forward, not back, as Suffolk set their sights on a competition in which they have done well in recent seasons without reaching the final.

He said: “It’s a difficult game first up, but an exciting one. The boys will be keen to start the season well and I hope we perform.

“It is always a tough game against Norfolk. They have some good players. The past is the past and we have got to be at our best on Sunday to win.

“Each competition goes quickly and it is important that if you lose that first one you bounce back quickly. We know the benefits of a good start, but also that it is not the end of the world if we lose.

“We’d love to get further than last year, but we will see what happens.”

Suffolk have never previously played at Fakenham CC, although several of the side have done so in the Thurlow Nunn East Anglian Premier League.

“I have never played there before so I can’t comment on what it’s like, but hopefully it will bring conditions that suit us,” said Mansfield.

Suffolk’s other group games are away to Staffordshire on Bank Holiday Monday, May 5^th, at home to Herefordshire at Sudbury CC on Sunday, May 11^th and at home to Shropshire at Mildenhall CC on Sunday, May 18^th.

Suffolk: Ollie Burle, Jack Beaumont, Josh Cantrell (capt), Tom Harper, Darren Ironside, Alex Maynard, Jacob Marston (wkt), Alex Oxley, Kieran Pell, Dan Shanks, Matt Wareing. 12^th man: Archie Miller.

Tags: Adam Mansfield, Archie Miller, Fakenham CC, Kieran Pell, NCCA Trophy, Norfolk

Categorised in: Suffolk CCC