NORFOLK v LINCOLNSHIRE - MINOR COUNTIES KNOCKOUT

FROM CHRIS KEYWOOD - CHAIRMAN, LINCOLNSHIRE CCC

Lincolnshire’s hopes of reaching the quarter final stages of the Minor Counties Knockout Trophy hang on a knife edge after an agonising 7 run defeat against Norfolk at Norwich.

On a difficult batting pitch and slow outfield the batsmen were never in total control and a low scoring match ensued. Norfolk won the toss and elected to bat. They lost a wicket in the first over with Matt Carter trapping opener France LBW. Norfolk’s first seven overs only produced 14 runs. Gradually Spelman and Arthurton eased their way to 66 before Carter gained his second wicket. A minor collapse then followed with two more wickets following on 66. Again Norfolk progressed steadily before losing their fifth wicket on 97 and two more with the total on 100. At 117 for 7 off 40 overs Norfolk were in difficulty but a lower order rally saw them reach 165 for 9 off their 50 overs.

All of Lincolnshire’s bowlers bowled economically , with Carter, Shepherd, Houston and Lineker all taking two wickets for less than 30 runs.

Lincolnshire got off to the worst possible start losing openers Birch and Morgan with only 4 runs on the board. Mat Lineker and Conrad Louth then batted sensibly and moved the total to 69 before Lineker was dismissed for 35. Paul Cook joined Conrad Louth and took the total to 107 before Cook was dismissed for 18. At this stage Lincolnshire were still in front of the required run rate but when Louth was dismissed for a well made 53 the impetus dried up and the required rate rose quickly. Despite some lusty blows by Ollie Burford it was not to be as Lincs finished on 158 for 7. Norfolk’s bowlers kept a stranglehold on the Lincolnshire innings and took the two points.

Lincolnshire now hope that Suffolk beat Norfolk this coming weekend and that they can then defeat Suffolk at Bracebridge Heath on Sunday, 2^nd June and then progress on run rate to the quarter finals.

Current Table

                                P             W            L              D             Pts

Shropshire          3              3              0              0              6

Norfolk                                3              2              1              0              4

Suffolk                 2              1              1              0              2

Lincolnshire       3              1              2              0              2

Wiltshire             3              0              3              0              0

Remaining fixtures

26 May                  Shropshire v Wiltshire

26 May                  Suffolk v Norfolk

2 June                   Lincolnshire v Suffolk