Tilbrook smashes double ton

Mark Tilbrook smashed a towering unbeaten 241 as Grimston CC began their 2025 Norfolk Cricket League campaign with a statement win on Saturday.After narrowly missing out on promotion last season, Grimston are pulling out all the stops to go one better this time around.Tilbrook notched the third highest-ever score in the NCL as the home side overcame Fakenham 4ths.Fakenham CC won the toss and elected to bowl, opening their attack with L. Matthews and W. Sparkes, while Grimston opened the batting with father and son Tim and Mark Tilbrook.Tilbrook senior put in a dependable performance with 21 runs before being dismissed by R. Whitlock.However, Mark Tilbrook went on to record his phenomenal knock in an explosive performance – smashing the previous club record by over 50 runs.Fin Mallett, 14, scored 11, highlighting the strength of the Grimston youth academy, while James Allitt went on to score 28 and Mike Knight scored 24. Grimston finished their innings having scored 375 runs for the loss of five wickets. With an almost impossible task, Fakenham set about chasing down the imposing total with guile and skill.R. Lough opened the batting and went on to score 53, while fellow opener C. Woods was unlucky to be caught-and-bowled by an in-form Bharathi Krishnan.W. Sparkes and B. Whitlcok scored 11 and 12 respectively, but Grimston were too strong with Mike Knight taking two wickets on his club debut. Captain Andrew Tilbrook was pleased with the result, saying: “Mark was unplayable, we know how good he can be when he is in form and he has really shown that today.”It was a tough day for Fakenham, who had some bad luck and would’ve pushed us close if it weren’t for Mark’s dominance.”We know the luck will go against us other weeks, but it’s nice to get the win under our belt.”