Saints enjoy silverware success

A record-breaking summer for St Andrews Cricket Club has culminated with silverware. On a sun-drenched afternoon at Horsford’s Manor Park ground, Saints lifted the Norfolk Cricket League T20 Cup for the first time in their history, after a thrilling penultimate ball success over holders Norwich Association of Malayalees.

Chasing 140 to win, Saints required 17 runs from the last over and seemed beaten. However, skipper Syed Hassan (11no) scored 10 from the first three balls, cranking up the pressure on his opposite number, and a couple of wides followed by another boundary from Nikhil Singh (22no) suddenly meant just one run was required from the final two balls. A quick single saw the celebrations begin and the five-wicket win meant the trophy returned to Thorpe for the first time since 1993 when the now defunct Thorpe CC beat Great Witchingham in the final.

Earlier in the afternoon three wickets from Ryan Finney had halted Malayalees’ momentum, after their opening pair had reached 50 in the 8th over. He later shared in a second-wicket partnership of 80 with Varinder Singh (47), as Saints overcame the shock of losing a wicket to just the second ball of their reply, and it was this all-round contribution which meant Ryan was the adjudicator’s deserving choice as man of the match. In reaching the final a large squad was required as St Andrews won four midweek evening games, three of which were against other Division One sides. Everyone played their part, and it was great to see those who missed out on the final due to injury or selection still present at the game cheering on their clubmates.

Both sides were well supported and those in attendance saw a great game of cricket. St Andrews would like to thank the hard-working Norfolk League committee for their excellent organisation, Horsford Cricket Club for hosting and Just Regional Thorpe Editor Milton Lindsay, who was on hand to capture the action and picture the trophy being hoisted.

Earlier in August yet another club record was shattered when St Andrews piled up 380-4 in the league win over Sprowston 3rds beating the previous club record 363, which had stood since 1924! Michael Church cracked a brilliant unbeaten 173 at Barkers Lane – the fourth-highest ever score recorded by a St Andrews batter in a Norfolk League game. St Andrews lost a high-scoring friendly with South Walsham, but beat Old Catton with Julian Denton scoring 64 and club treasurer Paul Aldous rolling back the years and opening the bowling to good effect.