Norfolk Tour 2024
Just as cricket evolves, so do the Sou’Westers. New fixtures, a new ground, a new pub and a new ‘window’: June 2024 saw the initiation of what all involved hope will be an annual event – the Norfolk mini-tour. We played and won two good games at beautiful Castle Acre cricket club and in every sense prepared well for the Western tour.
We assembled at the hospitable George & Dragon pub on Friday evening, tallied the plentiful recent marriage engagements among the membership and made the short walk to the Pig Shed Motel confident that the indifferent weather would not prevent play against West Norfolk CC the following day.
It was, as is often the case on a Sou’Wester tour, a family affair. Three Kennedys, three Stantons for WNCC and a Parker apiece – our opposition was led by Edmund Parker, who was the pick of the eight bowlers who attempted to stem the flow after Matt Sunter (73) and Harry Kennedy put on a century opening stand. The former was fluent in reaching a half-century containing just one single, but was one of three wickets to fall with the score on 101.
Showers facilitated a lengthy lunch break: no bad thing, as we were treated to a delicious spread by Deborah and team, a local keg of ale and rosé from farther afield. The Sou’Wester summer felt properly underway. Further familiarity came in the form of a Will Oakes (48) counter-attack and a late unbeaten cameo from Sam Kennedy, although extras being third top scorer in our 289-9 rather told the story of a bowling attack that struggled to exert control.
Despite the rain there was plenty of time for a decisive result and a solid West Norfolk start of 59-2 suggested a tight finish was possible. A typically impactful spell from Charlie Everett (4-16) not only dispelled that notion, but also prevented a contest between the Parker brothers – although Henry claimed three other wickets to wrap up the WNCC innings for 125 inside 25 overs.
This early finish provided ample time for a BBQ at the Kennedy residence that overlooks the ground, where the culinary task force again excelled itself, especially as we were driven inside by the elements. It didn’t feel much like mid-June, but with such a support network the Sou’Westers can always look on the sunny side.
The weather – which had accounted for much of the local league programme – improved on Sunday for an afternoon fixture against Castle Acre CC. A hybrid overs format with a draw possible was agreed upon, with the elder two Kennedys lining up for the hosts. With neither being part of a fluent half-century opening stand, the tourists sensed a tough assignment lay ahead.
However, Harry Chatfeild-Roberts got reward for an accurate opening spell with a perfect nip-backer and we were able to turn the screw through the wicket-to-wicket medium pace of Simon Eastham and Harry ‘Jesus’ Gillingwater, the latter claiming club best figures of 4-26. The last three wickets yielded 60 runs to somewhat resurrect the innings and set us 170 in 48 overs.
The result was thereafter little in doubt, as Everett announced himself to be ‘in the mood’. Off the mark first ball with a crunching cover drive to the rope, he struck 15 more boundary fours and four sixes on his way to 101. Saturday’s duck seemed a long time ago; the beauty of cricket! The scoreboard read 124 when he was third out, allowing Sunter and Henry Bletsoe to ease us home in just the 31st over.
A successful and enjoyable mini-tour that owed much to the efforts of the Kennedy family and the hospitality of Castle Acre CC. The club is clearly suited to cricket in June and we arrive in the west country with appetites whetted.