Coote shows his class with match-winning ton for North Runcton

Skipper Ben Coote hit a match-winning ton as North Runcton made it back-to-back wins in the Norfolk Alliance Premier Division.Coote showed his class as the visitors overcame a difficult start with the bat in their league clash at Bradfield.After winning the toss and choosing to bat made a disastrous start losing two key wickets in just the second over.Michael Crisp was caught with one that popped over the wicketkeeper’s head and slip took the catch.However, umpire McArthur could not see and had to consult with umpire Ellis standing at square-leg, who confirmed it had carried and Crisp was given out.The next ball Jacob Lockheart was adjudged leg-before-wicket and Runcton were struggling 2-2.However, Coote joined Ben Skipper and the two batted sensibly, making an excellent recovery with a partnership of 137 taking the score to 139-3 off 30 overs when Skipper was bowled by Amin Jawrawala for 74 off 98 balls with 10 fours. Coote was careful in making his half-century taking 89 balls, unlike his second 50 which was considerably more fluent and took just 33 deliveries. Overall, it was to be a match-winning century of 102 with 13 fours and 3 sixes.Another big partnership of 109 followed for the fourth wicket between Coote and Jamie White, an accomplished innings from the latter, who played some handsome strokes making an unbeaten 64 off 59 balls with 8 fours and a six.After Coote departed, Alexander Payne 14 and Lucas Triffitt took the total to 288-5 after 50 overs. In response, Bradfield came out all guns blazing using the first power play to give opening bowlers Coote and Triffitt some tap in the first 10 overs.Alex Johnson 40 in 42 balls and Chris Scannell 36 in 40 balls opened with a 79-run partnership in 12 overs. The introduction of Michael Annakin accounted for Johnson with a fine catch by Crisp and Scannell was removed by Joe Gent caught by Coote, the first of three wickets for Gent. (10-0-3-42).Annakin had similar figures with 3-45 off 10. Bradfield kept ahead of the required run rate well into the game but lost wickets at critical times.Ben Coote used his remaining overs well taking 2-42 off 10 to put the visitors in a good position to win.Indeed, they did with Ben Skipper taking the last two Bradfield wickets of Michael Seago and George Johnson (2-18 off 4.2) to give Runcton victory by 47 runs.Saturday’s home game against Acle will mark the halfway stage of the league season with North Runcton looking to produce some more consistent results in their remaining fixtures.