Fakenham 2nds narrowly beaten at home

Fakenham’s 2nd team suffered a narrow two-wicket defeat against Witchingham in Norfolk Alliance Division Two on Saturday.The home side were put into by the opposition and started well on a grey cloudy afternoon at Highfield Lawn.Keegan Monahan Fairlea was the first Fakenham batsman to depart, bowled by Joe Tillett for 24, with the score on 30.Harrison Futter was joined in the middle by Will Carter and between them, they put on a partnership of 84.Futter departed with the hosts on 114, bowled by Ben Flanagan for 35.It soon became 122-3 when the excellent Carter was adjudged leg-before-wicket off the bowling of Jack Burton for 34.The score had only moved on to 127 when Aaron Riseborough was caught for eight. A partnership of 23 for the fifth wicket was ended when Aaron Howell was dismissed, also for eight. The score was now 150-5 and the Witchingham bowlers were now on top.Two wickets fell in quick succession when Liam Riseborough was run out and Max Parsley departed for six.With Jeremy Wright still in the hosts were hoping for a respectable total. Emily Dack was next to go before Charlie Page and Arthur Dawson were both bowled without scoring to leave Jeremy Wright stranded on 28 not out.Fakenham reached 171 all out in 42.4 overs and not seeing out their overs would prove crucial in the final equation. In reply with blue sky and sunshine returning, Fakenham soon had Witchingham 5-1 when John Spelman was caught behind by Max Parsley off the bowling of Charlie Page for three.Ben Flanagan departed, brilliantly caught down the leg-side by wicket-keeper Parsley off the bowling of Aaron Howell for 16. A partnership of 58 between Owen Gooch and Matthew Blowers was ended with the latter given out leg-before-wicket off the bowling of Liam Riseborough for 21.With the total on 130-3, the hosts took two quick wickets with Matthew Hale bowled by Liam Riseborough for 14 and Jack Burton adjudged leg-before-wicket off the same bowler for 0.It soon became 134-6 when Fitz Honor was adjudged leg-before-wicket off the bowling of Monahan Fairlea for 2.Opener Owen Gooch kept the scoreboard ticking over as Witchingham moved closer to their target. Dylan Turrell departed for six, bowled by the excellent Liam Riseborough.The total was now 149-7 and the result was in the balance when Gooch was finally dismissed run out for 88.The result was decided in the last over with one ball to spare as Witchingham got over the line.Wright finished on 13 not out and Tillett on 1 not out. Liam Riseborough was the pick of the home bowling attack with 4-39 with Page, Howell and Monahan Fairlea claiming one scalp each.The game was played in a great spirit throughout.Match and matchball sponsor: North Norfolk Roofing.Match umpires: Nobby Cobb and Clive Welshman.