The Noticeboard
by Oscar Ress
FIVE-MINUTE DELIVERY
The absorbing five-match Test series between England and India sparked plenty of conversations about slow play and over-rates. But in an ECB Club T20 Cup Group 4 Area semi-final between Alderley Edge CC and Ackworth CC, one ball from the latter’s overseas bowler Shingi Masakadza took over five minutes to deliver. With the batter, Simon Normanton, charging, the seamer took nine attempts to bowl the fifth ball of his third over. It eventually resulted, after five minutes and 10 seconds, in a full toss that was bunted to mid-on for no run. On finally letting go of the ball, he whipped up the crowd at Haden Hill Ground. Ackworth, who posted only 94 in their innings, were defeated by six wickets and therefore knocked out. Alderley Edge progressed to a final, which they lost by 71 runs to Old Hill CC.