Norfolk’s Cup dream wrecked down by the Wrekin

Shropshire (147/7) beat Norfolk (101/7) by 46 runs

Credit: Cricket Shropshire

On Wenlock Edge the wood's in trouble;

His forest fleece the Wrekin heaves;

The gale, it plies the saplings double,

And thick on Severn snow the leaves.

Unlike in Housman’s poem, there was no Autumn gale blowing round Shropshire for this women’s county cup fixture, although the wind was chilly enough at the well-kept lawns of the Allscott Cricket Club and sports centre. 

This new competition is a chance for the minnows to have their day. There is a local legend that a giant dumped a huge vat of soil in the Shropshire countryside instead of dropping it on Shrewsbury and it formed the hill known as The Wrekin. Shropshire were today competing with fellow Tier 3 side Norfolk in order to decide which of them would have the opportunity to become a giant killer in this competition, the winners destined to face either Northampton or Shropshire’s local rivals Worcestershire.

Norfolk won the toss and fielded. Robyn Mathews, opening the batting for Shropshire immediately plundered 20 from the first over. Her opening partner, Mariam Khan was clearly keen to join in with the run-fest, but skied her second ball to May Drinkell at mid-wicket from the bowling of Amy Morris. 

Mathews was joined by her captain, Lara Jones and they proceeded to dismantle the Norfolk attack, taking the score to 68 after just seven overs. The left-handed Jones was looking set on 30 from just 24 balls when she failed to clear Norfolk skipper Emily Dack at mid-wicket from the bowling of Abi Free.

There was no let up in the onslaught from Shropshire, however, as left hander Amy Griffiths joined Mathews at the crease and they pushed the score on to 94 for 2 at the half way point. It appeared that Shropshire were aiming at a massive total. The fact they didn’t get it was due to some tidy bowling by Abi Free, Jade Hoyte and Maddy Browne. Norfolk also showed tremendous character in the face of losing their captain Emily Dack in the 13th over after she appeared to roll her ankle in her follow-through. Earlier she had dismissed the dangerous Mathews for 38, bowling her round her legs as she attempted a sweep.

Shropshire, who earlier had seemed destined to score nearly 200, went into the last over on 143/6. Jade Hoyte bowled it beautifully, building pressure with dots, taking a wicket and unluckily conceding three runs to an overthrow on the final ball. So Shropshire ended up on 147/7 – a decent score, but Norfolk had given themselves a fighting chance.

As soon as Norfolk came into bat, it became obvious that this task was going to be very difficult for them. They failed to score from the first 15 balls. After four overs they were 9 for 3. Amy Griffiths and pace bowler Kate Brazier were causing all sorts of problems for their batters. Wicket keeper Alex Hale was skilfully standing up to the stumps even for the pacy Brazier, which was putting even more pressure on the batters.

At the end of the powerplay, Norfolk were 18 for 3. 15 of those 18 runs had come from the bat of India Fox. During Shropshire’s innings she had patrolled the offside boundary brilliantly, saving many runs with her energetic fielding, now it was her time to shine with the bat. Joined at the crease by Niamh Rushton after Evie Booker had been well caught at backward point by Isabelle Crann, Fox finally had a partner who would stay with her. The two of them confidently added 56 in eight overs, contributing four of the five boundaries Norfolk scored today, but more importantly, running energetically between the wickets, turning ones into twos and twos into threes. Fox batted elegantly and with superb movement and timing and it was sad to see her depart for 33 from 40 balls after a lofted extra cover drive didn’t quite clear Robyn Mathews at extra cover.

Rushton remained until the 17th over, when she was brilliantly stumped by the lightning hands of Alex Hale from the bowling of Esther Hurford. It was left to Evie Smith to nudge Norfolk above the 100 mark in the final over, to cap a thoroughly enjoyable game.

Shropshire played very well indeed and in Brazier, Griffiths and the loopy leg spin of Isabelle Crann, have some excellent bowling options. India Fox was without doubt the star for Norfolk.

Norfolk can travel back to East Anglia with heads held high and lessons learned. Shropshire will be at home to Northamptonshire Steelbacks in the second round on Saturday 10th May. Northants will no doubt be favourites, but Shropshire have a great chance to progress if their top players perform at their best - and we all like a giant killing, especially round the Wrekin.