Ben Wilcox led Norfolk to their first silverware in 15 years with a brilliant century which clinched a six-wicket win over Cheshire in the National Counties Trophy final at Wormsley.

Norfolk chased down a target of 258 with more than five overs to spare to complete the highest successful run chase in a final at Wormsley, with Wilcox and wicketkeeper Charlie Hood – with a competition-best 73 not out - sharing a Norfolk record fifth-wicket partnership of 159.

To have two homegrown youngsters – Wilcox is 21 and Hood just 19 - at the crease at the end was a source of great pride for Norfolk coach Tom New, especially after Sam Arthurton and Josh Cobb, their two star batters, had fallen cheaply.

Arthurton, whose brilliant form had swept Norfolk to the final, fell second ball for a single and Cobb, the county’s professional, went for a fourth ball duck.

But Wilcox remained unflappable and rescued Norfolk from an unpromising position at 99 for four to see them home without further alarm.

Norfolk’s win secured them the Trophy for the sixth time, but the first since 2009 when skipper Arthurton made his debut in the competition.

“When Sam and Josh were out I thought it was going to be a tough run-in for us ,” New admitted.

“But the big thing is that we have worked hard over the last couple of years preparing the young lads for these sort of scenarios and thankfully today Benny and Hoody were exceptional.

“Full credit to them for the dedication they have put in to improve themselves and Norfolk County Cricket Club.

“For the last four or five years we have been blooding the youngsters so that they get used to these situations and they can go on and win games for us.

“To chase down that total with more than five overs and to win the game in the manner they did is some feat and they should be extremely proud of themselves.”

For once Cheshire’s batters could not dominate as they had in their previous four completed matches but they grafted hard and got themselves to what appeared to be a competitive total.

Norfolk succeeded in restraining the in-form Sam Perry so it was Rob Sehmi who was the chief aggressor in an opening partnership of 63.

Sehmi fell when he drove Brett Stolworthy to extra cover and was quickly followed by Alex Money, who slashed Calum Metcalfe to Arthurton at slip.

Perry accumulated quietly and looked nailed on for another half-century until, on 47, he gave Cobb the charge and was stumped by Charlie Hood.

Luke Young stabilised the innings but Cheshire lost momentum when three wickets went down for two runs in successive overs.

Nick Anderson and Steven Green went LBW to Cameron Graveling and Cobb respectively with Young being run out in between for a patient 36 when he set off for an unlikely single to Arthurton at square leg and was sent back.

Cobb, who is on a white ball contract with Worcestershire, finished with three for 37 from 10 overs of clever off-spin but Cheshire were able to accelerate once he had bowled his overs.

At 165 for seven, Cheshire were in danger of falling short of a competitive total but Dearden and Andrew Jackson added 37 in a resourceful eighth-wicket partnership before Jackson was taken at extra cover.

Chris Sanders then joined Dearden in what proved to be a significant unbroken ninth wicket stand of 55 in the last seven overs of the innings.

Dearden hustled and bustled his way to 40 not out from 49 balls while Sanders straight drove Graveling for four then pulled the next ball for six to finish on 29 not out from 20 balls.

Sanders inflicted further damage on Norfolk with his first ball – and the seventh of their innings – when Arthurton went caught behind to a legside strangle having added only a single to his previous 535 runs in this season’s tournament.

Arthurton was clearly disappointed with the decision and dragged himself back to the pavilion but Cheshire were jubilant at having removed Norfolk’s danger man so quickly.

Norfolk recovered from that setback with Ethan Metcalf and  Wilcox adding 66 in a fluent second-wicket partnership before Metcalf was unfortunately run out for 35.

Wilcox pushed Young into the offside and set off for a single, but Metcalf slipped at the other end and, with no chance of making his ground at the striker’s end, sacrificed himself.

There was no luck about the third wicket as left-arm seamer Young bowled Cobb for a duck with a full-length delivery.

Wilcox completed the first half-century of the match from 52 balls but Jordan Everett then holed out to short midwicket to give Young his second wicket.

That left Norfolk wobbling on 99 for four but Wilcox maintained his composure and turned the match around in a superb partnership with Hood.

Cheshire captain Dearden rang the bowling changes in an attempt to make a breakthrough but for once slow left-armers Steven Green and Xander Selby were unable to oblige.

Instead, Wilcox left his previous Trophy best of 65 behind and reached his century from 102 balls.

The century partnership was raised in 103 balls and the pair accelerated away to victory which was celebrated by a large contingent of Norfolk supporters.

This was Cheshire’s first Trophy defeat of the season and captain/coach Dearden admitted they had saved their wort performance for last.

“We would have liked a few more on the board but you have to give credit to the two Norfolk boys, that was a brilliant partnership,” he said.

“There wasn’t much we could have done. There were a couple of half-chances but, that’s cricket.

“But that is why National Counties cricket there are so many good youngsters coming through.

“Cheshire cricket is in a brilliant place at the moment. We have a lot of youngsters coming through and we are looking forward to the future.

“I’m so proud of the cricket we have played in this competition. Our T20 and our three-day cricket hasn’t been the best but we can take some positives from the way we have played in 50 overs.

“It’s frustrating because we didn’t put the best Cheshire cricket on show today. I thought we did most things right.

“So while there is disappointment and frustration, most of all I am very proud.”

 

National Counties Trophy final

Wormsley: Cheshire 257-8 (Sam Perry 47, Harry Dearden 40 not out, Josh Cobb 3-37), Norfolk 258-4 (Ben Wilcox 135 not out, Charlie Hood 73 not out). Norfolk won by six wickets.