Wareing paves the way for big win

April 29, 2025

A DEVASTATING spell by Matt Wareing saw Suffolk get off to a flying start in this season’s NCCA Trophy.

Wareing (pictured above) claimed the first five wickets to fall, including the key dismissal of skipper Sam Arthurton, to leave Norfolk 47 for 5 in reply to Suffolk’s 203 all out in Sunday’s opening Group 2 fixture at Fakenham CC.

The hosts, who are the holders, never recovered and were dismissed for just 79 in only 25.3 overs to suffer a heavy 124-run defeat.

Suffolk head Adam Mansfield said of the left-arm opening bowler: “Matt Wareing was excellent. That’s the best I’ve seen him bowl. He looked threatening every ball and he was desperate to do well.

“He deserves the rewards after the hard work he’s put in during the winter.

“Sam Athurton is always their key man. He’s a fantastic player and he can win a game of cricket single-handedly, so to get him out early was important.”

Wareing, who finished with the stand-out figures of 8-2-27-5, received good support from fellow seamer Dan Shanks, who mopped up with 4.3-2-4-3, as well as Suffolk’s three spinners.

Jack Beaumont, Tom Harper and captain Josh Cantrell sent down a combined total of 13 overs for just 45 runs and picked up the other two wickets between them.

Suffolk had earlier won the toss and elected to bat first, being bowled out for 203 two balls shy of their maximum 50 overs.

Darren Ironside top-scored with 44 off 67 deliveries, while Jacob Marston (27 off 40), Cantrell (23 off 35) and Shanks (22 off 30) all made useful contributions.

The highest partnership of the innings was only 37 in eight overs for the ninth wicket between Marston and Shanks.

Mansfield said: “We were unsure how the pitch would play, but we know that batting first suits us. We backed ourselves to get a score and defend it.

“Darren played well on a difficult pitch. We had a lot of starts but no one went on to get that big score. We always felt in the game with 200 and that if we bowled well, we’d give ourselves a good chance of winning.

“It was an excellent first win but the games don’t get any easier. One win doesn’t win the competition and we now have to back that up.”

Suffolk’s next match is away to Staffordshire at Bignall End CC on Bank Holiday Monday, May 5th.

 

Scorecard

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