Taylor takes five scalps as Castle Rising romp to victory

Castle Rising displayed their Division One West promotion credentials with an emphatic victory over Saham Toney in the Norfolk Cricket League on Saturday.

Mid-table Rising made a mockery of second-placed Saham Toney’s batting order with Matt Taylor picking up 5 for 34 with the ball as they sealed victory by 186 runs.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the hosts were in kinds of trouble as openers Calum Chrome-Russell and Roshan Samarathunga both fell cheaply.

There was a brief flurry of runs but when Matt Taylor fell for 20, Rising found themselves reeling on 57 for 5 against their high-flying visitors.

But a sixth-wicket stand of 154 between Paul Hudson (79) and Ajoy John (89 off 65 balls) repaired the damage and took the score to 211 before John became the next wicket to fall.

Mahesh Sannakki then chipped in with a cameo of 31 off 26 balls as the Castle Rising innings closed on 265 for 8 from 45 overs.

Any hopes Saham Toney had of recording their seventh victory of the campaign were soon dispelled by Taylor who ripped through the visitors batting order with ease.

Taylor was well supported by batting hero John, who picked up 2 for 17, Ram Aswani 2 for 1 and Karthik Sankar 1 for 19 as Saham Toney were bowled out for miserly 79 in the 22nd over.

Aaron Draper (33) was the only visiting batsman to reach double-figures.

The victory leaves Castle Rising sixth in the league standings ahead of a trip to basement boys Wensum on Saturday.

With Saham Toney hosting league leaders Beeston, Rising know that another positive result could see them close the gap on the leading pack.