Norwich failed to obtain revenge for last season’s final defeat as they were brushed aside by Swardeston in the Carter Cup first round at Ingham.
Robert Newton blasted an unbeaten 105 from 55 balls as Swardeston took just 16.5 overs to chase down the 140 they needed for victory.
Earlier in the day, Paul Wiseman – who captained Norwich due to Chris Borrett’s Norfolk commitments – won the toss and elected to bat first.
Runs were hard to come by for Norwich’s openers and it wasn’t long before Oliver Higenbottam looped the ball into the hands of Newton for the first wicket.
Aaron Watson relieved the pressure with an elegant cover drive, but the next wicket was just around the corner. An unhappy Ben Baldwin was adjudged to have been caught behind to leave the score at 15 for two.
Sam Noster and Watson looked to rebuild the innings with some positive running, but their resistance was ended when the impressive Chris Gardiner took the wicket of Noster for 19.
The highest partnership of the innings then followed, with Alistair Horsley smashing the final over before the interval for 16, before a post-lunch collapse left Norwich struggling.
Only 41 more runs were added to the total with Watson (31) falling in the opening over of the afternoon session. Only Horsley (61) managed to take the attack to the bowlers as no other batsman reached double figures.
Gardiner (4-43) was the pick for Swardeston, bowling with excellent pace and aggression throughout his spell. Michael Eccles and Jaden Hatwell also chipped in with two wickets apiece.
In response, Swardeston were given an early lifeline when Newton was dropped in the gully.
The 20-year-old then made the fielding side pay for their mistake with a breathtaking innings to win the game.
Jordan Taylor was dismissed for three, but Newton was already in his stride and with the assistance of Will Rist (23no) he blasted his way to 50 from just 37 balls.
The opening batsman – who hit nine fours and eight sixes along the way – then produced some massive hitting against Norwich’s spinners to wrap up the nine-wicket victory as he reached his century in the 17th over.
Newton – a Northamptonshire academy player – admitted that he enjoyed himself: “It was good. I got my eye in early on and the spinners were introduced as I decided I was going to have a go at most things,” he said.
Swardeston captain Mark Thomas reserved some words of praise for his century maker: “It was nice to watch, certainly very entertaining,” he said. “It’s good to have him playing for us on a Sunday now and again.”
Thomas urged his team to repeat the success of last year: “It was nice to knock a fellow Premier League team out, so hopefully we can go all the way,” he said.
(Article courtesy of the Eastern Daily Press)
