GREAT Melton CC play Eaton on Saturday while their Mid-Norfolk Sunday League challenge begins with a visit to Vauxhall Mallards before the club make their Norfolk Alliance debut the following weekend.
GREAT Melton play Eaton on Saturday while their Mid-Norfolk Sunday League challenge begins with a visit to Vauxhall Mallards before the club make their Norfolk Alliance debut the following weekend.
There have been very few changes in personnel during the winter with only young fast bowler, Duncan Osborne, moving on - he has joined Old Buckenham.
Craig Hepple has returned and Damien Loines has joined the club from Hales.
Melton warmed up for the new season with two friendlies last weekend, both resulting in victories.
Against Acle on Saturday there were two wickets apiece for young bowlers Nathan Devlin (2-11), Ryan Hayward (2-11), Alex Cooper (2-21) and Martyn Cook (2-28) and one for Jack McCurley (1-28) as the visitors were bowled out for 131, C Easterbrook (27) top scoring.
Despite losing Richard Wood second ball, a partnership of 73 between Jonathan Howard (26) and Martin Bunn (40) saw Melton well on the way to victory.
Alex Cooper maintained the momentum with 34 no before some lusty blows by Cook (19 no) saw Melton to 135-4 and a six-wicket win.
On Sunday Gooderstone captain Mark Drohan's fear that a mixed Melton team would be too strong for his mixed Gooderstone side, proved all to correct. Melton recorded an imposing total of 222-4 off their 40 overs.
Owen Taylor and Jason Whiddett scored 50s before retiring. Two other products of Melton youth policy, Phil Lachowycz and Marcus Godbold, carried on scoring freely and Grenville Ireland and Ryan Hayward saw Melton past 200 with the 'silver fox' opening his arms to smash the last three balls of the innings for boundaries, the last two clearing the ropes for six.
It wasn't long after Melton took the field that Gary Coulson (2-8) was amongst the wickets.
Daryl Godbold (1-0) and Ireland's (2-2) three-over spells took the game away from Gooderstone despite a spirited effort from Keith Morgan (31). He fell to an Alborough special, then he ran through the tail to record personal best figures of
2-1-4-1. Gooderstone were all out for 71 to give Melton victory by 151 runs.
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