Hales 311-7 Costessey 134

Hales A teenager Aaron Jones put Costessey under the cosh with a quickfire century - including 96 in boundaries. After being invited to open the innings by skipper Mark Roe, the 18-year-old hammered 10 sixes and 9 fours in a breath-taking 105 off 16 overs. Jones was the star turn as Hales continued their end-of-season revival by racking up their biggest total for many years – a mammoth 311-7 in the Norfolk League Division Five basement encounter.

Particularly savage on the short ball, Jones hit with great power and freedom as Costessey's decision to put Hales into to bat on a damp wicket backfired.  Jones took 9 overs to put his first half-century on the board and 7 overs to complete his second, reaching three figures with a  majestic six, before being caught at mid-on off a full toss shortly afterwards.

Other players who joined the run-fest were Chris Andersen (53), Dan Andersen (38), Milton Lindsay (30), Damien Loines (22) and Graeme Henderson (40 not out).

Hales dismissed the visitors for 134 with three balls remaining to win by 167 runs, finish third from bottom – the highest they have been in the table all season.

R Bilham (35) and L Jeyaligion (38) were the chief contributors for Costessey, who never looked like making an impression on the daunting target.

Man of the match: Aaron Jones.

Norwich and Cotishall Wanderers B 83 Hales 84-3

Hales A stepped up their bid to avoid the Norfolk League Division Five wooden spoon with a 7-wicket victory over fellow strugglers Norwich and Coltishall Wanderers. An excellent spell of spin bowling from James Ingham and a mature unbeaten 41 from Chris Andersen were the highlights as Hales lifted themselves off  bottom spot with a morale-boosting win.

The hosts batted first but found themselves in the grip of Hales' tight bowling and fielding. Jamie Weston, 13, responded well to being given the responsibility of opening the bowling and went on to send down 8 overs for a mere 16 runs. He was well supported by Matt Parkin, who took 2 for 12. Spin twins James Ingham  (4 for 16 off 12 overs) and Jon Premachandra (2 for 11 off 7.4) were the stars of the show as Wanderers were dismissed for a paltry 83 off 42 overs.

An unbroken 4th wicket partnership saw Hales pass the total in the 30th over, with Chris Andersen contributing a mature 41 not out and skipper Mark Roe using his experience to score 19 not out.

Man of the Match: Chris Andersen.

Hales 59 Bradfield 61-0

Hales produced their worst all-round performance of the season as they slumped to a humiliating 10-wicket defeat at sun-baked Bradfield.

Choosing to bat first on a good-looking track, Hales then proceeded to fritter away their wickets with almost casual aplomb against the Norfolk League Division Five title-chasers. All responsibility and concentration was cast aside as relegated Hales offered the minimum of resistance to Bradfield's bowlers, with T Bush taking 4 for 9 from 8 overs and S Holmes recording figures of 2 for 12 from 11 overs.Veteran Milton Lindsay was the only player to reach double figures, remaining unbeaten on 16 as lack-lustre Hales were dismissed for 59 in 34 overs.

Hales fared no better in the field as openers N Whitehouse (34 not out) and N Grapes (24 not out) blazed their side to victory in 10 overs aided by some very ordinary bowling.

Man of the Match: Milton Lindsay (the only candidate). 

Hales (137-6) lost to Saxlingham A (139-2) by eight wickets in Norfolk League Division Five.

Lowly Hales A showed plenty of fighting spirit in their clash at Norfolk League Division Five table-toppers Saxlingham but were unable to prevent defeat by eight wickets.

In a match reduced to 40 overs per side because of rain Hales batted first on a slow, moist pitch. Initial progress was slow with the opening bowlers bowling a tight line and length and the ball hard to get away on a damp pitch and wet outfield, which reduced the value of many half-decent shots to nothing. An element of frustration crept into some of the Hales batting, reflected in the loss of wickets as the bowlers remained on top. Milton Lindsay, having grafted resolutely for his 16, eventually lost concentration and was unusually bowled behind his legs off a harmless looking slow delivery.

 However the tempo was increased in the second half of the innings as Dan Andersen and Graeme Henderson set about giving the hosts a reasonable total to chase. Andersen, as quick as ever to pounce on the loose slow ball, raced to a valuable 49, while Henderson launched a powerful legside blitz to score 44 not out. Rob Mattocks contributed a useful unbeaten 14 as Hales reached a total of 137-6, which they felt was a fair effort in the circumstances.

Hales too enjoyed early success with the ball when Andersen struck but were then frustrated by a 112-run second wicket  partnership between brothers Mark English (52) and David English (61 not out).  Hales had chances to catch both men but were denied by substandard fielding and in one incident a rather liberal interpretation of the no-ball law, which saw David English caught by a fielder in the deep. Hales felt that the delivery was legitmate as it was below waist height and the dismissal should have stood.

By the time the partnership was broken when Mark English was caught behind by Chris Andersen off the spin of Steve Claxton the game had gone beyond Hales reach and the hosts cruised to their target in 29 overs.

Hales Men of the Match: Dan Andersen and Graeme Henderson.

Dan Andersen starred with bat and ball as relegation-threatened Hales A scored a morale-boosting second league win of the season over fellow Norfolk League Division Five strugglers Costessey.

Andersen took four wickets as the hosts were dismissed for 104 on a sponge pitch and he then weighed in with a vital half century as Hales wrapped up victory minutes before the heavens opened for what would have been a terminal downpour.

 Costessey were invited to take first use of the dubious-looking surface and it looked like a good Hales decision as runs proved hard to come by. Costessey struggled to post 104 off 37 overs with Alan Pulsford (22) and R Downing  (27) their chief contributors.

The improving Andersen bowled particularly well to claim  4 for 26 off nine overs while Chris Bezant (2 for 12 off five overs) and Mark Roe (2 for 8 off seven) gave solid support.

Costessey opening bowlers N McKnight and G Taylor applied pressure from the outset and were rewarded with a series of early breakthroughs which left Hales staring down the barrel at 19-4. But the visitors were rescued by a fine 77-run partnership between Andersen and Graeme Henderson who took their team to within sight of the winning post. In their anxiety to finish the game quickly as the storm clouds gathered both players holed out in the deep, Andersen for a stylish 51 and Henderson for a hard-hit 27. However the Hales tailenders kept their composure to bring up a much-needed victory in the  30^th over.

Pick of the Costessey bowlers was N McKnight who took 5 for 43 from 12 overs. He was well supported by fellow opening bowler G Taylor whose 11 overs containing six maidens cost a mere 14 runs.

Man of the Match: Dan Andersen for inspired batting, bowling and exemplary sharp fielding.

Hales A's youngest player Chris Andersen inspired the team to their best total of the season but could not prevent them from sliding to a five-wicket Norfolk League Division Five defeat at Happisburgh.

The 14-year-old topscored and took man of the match honours for the second week running, following up the previous week's 61 with a fine 83 against the Seasiders - and dropping a hint to the first team selectors.

Belying his tender years he turned on the power to hit three mighty sixes and nine fours, dominating a century stand for the fourth wicket with veteran Milton Lindsay, who contributed a defiant 22.

Hales skipper Damien Loines won the toss and elected to bat on a pitch still suffering from the effects of an overnight drenching. Openers Jon Vale (20) and Paul Wilson (24) put on 47 for the first wicket punishing some wayward bowling with Wilson in trademark fashion particularly severe on anything short. Their departures in similar fashion, caught off leading edges, brought Dan Andersen to the crease but he was out of luck bowled for a duck by paceman Catchpole. This brought the youngest and oldest members of the team together as Lindsay, 46, joined the youngest member of the Andersen cricketing clan. While Lindsay adopted a cautious approach to scoring in the face of some accurate bowling, Andersen batted with great confidence and freedom - belying his slight frame with some of his power-hitting over deep mid-wicket - the longest part of the ground.

When the duo were out, Lindsay stumped after advancing down the track and Andersen caught at mid-wicket, skipper Loines continued the push towards 200 with some lusty hitting. Hales fell just short on 197 for 7, aided by at least seven spilled catches. Slow bower Peter Dennis was he hosts' leading wicket-taker with 4 for 34.

Hales enjoyed early success with two quick wickets - the second of them something of a bonus as Raven managed to get himself run out off a Dan Andersen no-ball. The dismissal saw the towering figure of Wayne Catchpole join seasoned veteran Ivan Andrews at the crease. The duo were rarely troubled as they shared in a match-winning 118 stand for the third wicket with 53-year-old Andrews intelligently scoring 66 and Catchpole weighing in with a powerful 67. When Dan Andersen claimed both their wickets in quick succession, caught behind off beautiful seaming deliveries, Hales' hopes of success were boosted. But Happisburgh somewhat nervously hauled themselves over the finishing line in the 43^rd over with five wickets in hand.

Dan Andersen was the pick of the Hales bowlers returning figures of 3 for 40 - and interestingly taking a hand in all five wickets to fall, as he took a catch and also bowled the no-ball for the run out.

Man of the match: Chris Andersen for his mature 83 and good work behind the stumps.

Bradfield 169-5 Hales A 106-9

Struggling Hales A slumped to a five-wicket defeat at the hands of Bradfield in Norfolk League Division Five.

A sparkling 61 from 14-year-old wicket-keeper batsman Chris Andersen was the highlight of the Hales innings which closed on 166-9, with Jon Vale (20), Milton Lindsay (19) and Dan Andersen (30) the other key contributors. A doggedly accurate Bradfield bowling attack was spearheaded by T Patrickson who claimed  6 for 27 from his 12 overs.

 Despite taking two early wickets Hales were frustrated by a 102-run stand between  skipper N Whitehouse (59) and D Hale (61 not out) who broke the back of Bradfield's task without too much trouble. The visitors were able to reach their target  in the 42^nd over with five wickets in hand.

Hales Man of the Match: Chris Andersen for great batting and glovework.

 Hales A 73   East Harling A 74-4

A disastrous batting collapse paved the way for Hales fourth Norfolk League Division Five defeat in five matches as they lost by six wickets to East Harling A.

HALES A's lack of bowling firepower was exposed as they slumped to a disappointing 72 run defeat at North Elmham in Norfolk League Division Five Hales skipper Damien Loines put Elmham into bat but after an an early breakthrough when Todd Jones removed one of Elmham's openers for a duck things went downhill Hales were made to suffer as Grant King and 14 year old Brett Stolworthy put on 164 for the second wicket King's powerful assault on the bowling saw him reach 101 with six mighty sixes and nine fours which left the bemused Hales fielders scurrying into the hedgerows and gardens in pursuit of leather Stolworthy was more measured in his approach but batted well for his 63 as the duo's partnership formed the basis of a daunting 254 4 total Hales needed to make a flying start to their reply but with senior batsmen Wilson Lindsay and Loines all failing to make an impact it was left to the side's youngsters to carry the attack to the opposition Dan Andersen batted beautifully for his wellpaced 75 and was well supported by his brother Chris 24) Some spirited late hitting from Graham Henderson which produced a quickfire 36 gave the score an air of respectability as Hales finished on 182 all out their best total of the season so far but well short of the required target.

Man of the Match: Dan Andersen

Hales A 147-9  Aylsham 146

Hales A scored a dramatic first win of the season as they beat Aylsham in a thrilling Norfolk League Division Five game that went to the final ball of the 45th over. A tension-packed last over began with Aylsham needing eight to win with three wickets in hand but it ended with them falling two runs short of the 148 target. Veteran medium pacer Mark Roe kept his nerve to claim three wickets as Hales scraped home by a whisker.

The first ball of the final over saw Aylsham's top scorer Jeremy Cocks hit a two to take his total to 40, but he was then was brilliantly caught behind by Chris Andersen despite the ball being edged into his throat. This brought the slight figure of Peter Minns to the crease. Alarm bell were ringing for Hales when the 13-year-old smashed his first ball through midwicket for four but he was then caught off the next delivery. The last batsman played a dot ball before being caught on the final ball of the match. Roe who had earlier suffered his second consecutive golden duck with the bat was able to atone with the ball by completing a 4-41 haul from 11 overs.

Chris Bezant, Todd Jones and Graeme Henderson gave good support by taking two wickets apiece, and there was some good work by the fielders. A bright and breezy unbeaten 43 peppered with aggressive shots from youth teamer Sam Watts was the highlight of the Hales 147-9 total. He gave the innings vital momentum on a day when a damp pitch and outfield made runs hard to come by Milton Lindsay (23) Graeme Henderson (23) and Chris Andersen (18) were the other key contributors. Aylsham did not cover themselves in glory in the field by dropping eight catches in a poor display.

 Hales Man of the Match: Sam Watts

Saxlingham A 270-2 Hales A 84