North Runcton record friendly win

North Runcton enjoyed a comfortable win in a pre-season friendly fixture on Saturday, winning by six wickets at Paradise Fields – the home of Long Sutton CC.In a match of 45 overs per side, the hosts won the toss and elected to bat first.They started slowly scoring at just over two an over for the first few overs.Their first wicket fell on 18 when Jacob Gray was caught by North Runcton captain Ben Coote off the bowling of Kirwin Christoffels for seven.Ranan Sangha, at number three, added nine before he was bowled by Lucas Triffitt.With opening bat Nathan Oliver, the two had put on 29 for the second wicket.Oliver went on to make a well-made 68 (11 fours), featuring in several mini partnerships, the main one being 30 with Paul Edgelier, who made 29. Oliver was dismissed by spinner Greg Rowlands on debut for North Runcton. Josh Baker hit a quick-fire 16 and Dan Oldfield also made 16, having to retire unwell on 10, but returned to make 16 and was the last wicket to fall with Joe Moss left unbeaten on 13.The innings closed at 198 all out in the last over.Runcton used seven bowlers: Coote 3-15 off 6.4, Christoffels 1-22 off six, Lucas Triffitt 1-25 off six, Joe Gent 1-42 off nine, Rowlands 2-33 off 6.1, Oli Booth 1-21 off four and Jasper Payne 1-38 off six. Wicketkeeper Jack Hazel took two catches behind the stumps and Mark Skipper held a difficult chance to dismiss Edgelier.In reply, Josh Baker had a disastrous first over with two no-balls well above head height and went for 18. However, he redeemed himself, taking the wicket of Mark Skipper (an elegant 20 ) clean-bowled with 1-37 off five.Skipper and Christoffels had an opening partnership of 47, followed by a second-wicket partnership of 90 between Jamie White with a well-structured innings of 48 (five boundaries and a six) with Christoffels. Christoffels was at his sublime best with 53 (seven boundaries and many quick singles) before surrendering to Shay Pooley caught in the deep by Moss.Alec Payne added 26 in a short space of time, Jasper Payne was caught in the deep by Josh Baker, for a debut wicket for 14-year-old spinner Ellis Redden for four.Greg Rowlands made 16 not out to complete an excellent debut.Runcton reached the target, finishing with 199-4 off 29 overs.For Long Sutton, other bowlers were Paul Edgelier 0-27 off five, Shay Pooley 2-39 off seven, Moss 0-40 off four, Redden 1-31 off five, and Sangha 0-14 off three.