North Elmham (5pts) lost to Blundeston (24 pts)  by 6 wickets in Norfolk League Division 7.

Highlights:
North Elmham.  Christo Slabbert 43
Blundeston. Elliot Gooch 54 not out, M. Talbot 3 - 11, M. Bowns 3 - 18.

Report
North Elmham entertained league leaders Blundeston on Saturday.
Loosing the toss Elmham were invited to bat first.

Openers Stephan Malherbe and Tony Garrod opened the batting against two of the quickest bowlers in this league. Steady progress was made before Malherbe tried to leave a ball from Mobbs which flicked his gloves on the way through to the wicketkeeper. This induced a procession of Elmham batsmen making the walk to the middle and soon returning and when Richie Futter was excellently caught by G. Talbot off a skier Elmham were 47 for 6 wickets from 20 overs.

Christo Slabbert and Rob Joplin set about repairing the damage. The pair put on 62 in 11 overs before Joplin was out for 22. Slabbert was bowled off his pads soon afterwards for a swashbuckling 43 from the same amount of balls faced, and the Elmham innings subsided to 122 all out from 35 overs.

M. Talbot and M. Bowns were the most successful bowlers but Gooch and Mobbs bowled very quickly with the new ball.

Elmham knew they needed early wickets and Ant Keeble obliged with the first ball of the Blundeston innings as he got extra bounce and Slabbert took the catch at gully. Keeble also bowled visiting skipper G. Talbot and Blundeston were 16 for 2 from 7 overs. All this time Andy Kay was running in down the hill, but had no luck at all.  

Palmer replaced Keeble and Matt Elmar, making a welcome return to cricket after three years out of the game, replaced Kay.
Elmar bowled with pace and had Goffin caught at the wicket. When Palmer had Chapman caught the score was 62 from 25 overs.

That turned out to be the last Elmham success as Elliot Gooch and S. Verma made steady progress towards the winning post.

Kay returned as Elmar started to tire and again had no luck with three very difficult chances went begging.

Palmer tried most of his options but Blundeston achieved their target with six wickets and seven overs to spare, Gooch being 54 not out, Verma 26 not out.

Elmham skipper Chris Palmer was pleased with the way his bowlers had performed and said afterwards " Blundeston were the best team they had played this season, they had steam rollered most sides this year but they knew they had been in a game today."

Next week see Elmham travel to Great Yarmouth for the return fixture.
Players meet at The Railway, Elmham at 1215.

North Elmham

E. Gooch          6  -  4  -  8  -  1
N. Mobbs       6  -  2  -  18  -  1
L. Chapman  6  -  2  -  20  -  1
M. Talbot        6  -  2  -  11  -  3
M. Bowns       6  -  1  -  18  -  3
S. Brindle       5  -  0  -  34  -  1

A. Keeble   9  -  2  -  26  -  2,
A. Kay       11  -  4  -  20  -  0
C. Palmer  7  -  1  -  25  -  1
M. Elmar    8  -  1  -  21  -  1
R. Joplin    2  -  0  -  15  -  0
J. Hall         1  -  0  -  10  -  0