ALL-ROUND EFFORTS OF KING SECURE EMPHATIC COUNTY CUP VICTORY

A 52-ball 85 with the bat and figures of 2-30 with the ball from Sam King secured an emphatic victory against Norfolk for Nottinghamshire’s U18s.

King was one of three half-centurions as Notts posted 305-8 before the skipper led the bowling efforts to reduce the visitors to 167 all out.

Having been put in at the start of the day, Notts lost Travis Holland in the third over, bowled for 11 by Cameron Graveling.

Sam Seecharan joined Ben Martindale, and the pair cautiously laid a platform for the Green and Golds, before the former was dismissed by Ben Panter for 20.

Martindale and Lucas Stentiford built on those early foundations, adding 120 for the third wicket before both men fell in quick succession, for 66 and 63 respectively.

King, Academy Player of the Year in 2020, then firmly put his foot on the accelerator, retaining most of the strike over the last 15 overs.

Qundeel Haider (15) and Dan Frost (16* off ten) provided King with ample support as he brought up his fifty from just 38 balls with his fourth boundary.

The young all-rounder would add a further three maximums over the course of the next 14 deliveries, his fifth six taking the score beyond 300 in the final over.

King perished off the final delivery of the innings when attempting a third maximum on the trot but the damage had already been done, the skipper ending with 85 from 52 balls as Notts posted 305-8 from their 50 overs.

George Park then handed Notts the perfect start to the second innings, Norfolk opener Freddie Fairey falling to his first delivery, caught behind without scoring.

Fellow opening bowler Abneer Irfan would then remove Harry Nunn (3) and Jonah Wicks (0) in successive deliveries in the fourth over to leave Norfolk reeling on 11-3.

Ben Wilcox (51) battled hard amid the early collapse but after King had removed the wicketkeeper and Jack Gibson (13), Notts were firmly on their way to victory.

Farhan Ahmed (1-17), Qundeel Haider (1-40) and Drew Owen (2-14) combined to take the next four wickets before Fateh Singh finished off the 138-run triumph, trapping Graveling LBW for seven.