New professional Rob Taylor marked his debut by guiding Norfolk to a comfortable win in their opening fixture of the season at Manor Park yesterday.

The Scotland all-rounder scored an unbeaten 51 to help his new county to a six wicket success against Cambridgeshire in the Unicorns Minor Counties Knockout Trophy.

Norfolk bowled the visitors out for just 170 after winning the toss, with Taylor taking a couple of wickets, and then got home with nearly 14 overs to spare, with Lewis Denmark also recording a half century.

Eastern Daily Press: Unicorns Knockout Trophy: Norfolk v Cambridgeshire, May 1, 2017, Manor Park. Lewis Denmark hooks to the boundary. Picture: Tim FerleyUnicorns Knockout Trophy: Norfolk v Cambridgeshire, May 1, 2017, Manor Park. Lewis Denmark hooks to the boundary. Picture: Tim Ferley (Image: Tim Ferley)

Cambridgeshire got off to a solid enough start, with Nesan Jeyaratnam (29) and Michael Pepper (30) putting on 54 for the second wicket, but 70-1 soon became 99-5 as Ben Coote took three wickets and Matt Taylor also weighed in with one.

James Williams and skipper Lewis Bruce then repaired some of the damage by adding a further 50, but once Matt Taylor bowled the former for 27 the writing was on the wall. In the end Bruce ran out of partners, finishing stranded on 40 not out as Rob Taylor took a second wicket, after accounting for opener Asim Butt for nine, and Matt Taylor added a third to his tally.

Eastern Daily Press: Unicorns Knockout Trophy: Norfolk v Cambridgeshire, May 1, 2017, Manor Park. Ben Coote claims his second wicket of three bowled by a yorker. Picture: Tim FerleyUnicorns Knockout Trophy: Norfolk v Cambridgeshire, May 1, 2017, Manor Park. Ben Coote claims his second wicket of three bowled by a yorker. Picture: Tim Ferley (Image: Tim Ferley)

Rob Taylor finished with figures of 2-37 from 7.3 overs while Matt Taylor took 3-31 and Coote 3-27.

In reply the in-form Sam Arthurton went for just 11 but any home nerves soon disappeared in Ashley Watson's first competitive game as one-day skipper since being handed the job during the close season.

Eastern Daily Press: Unicorns Knockout Trophy: Norfolk v Cambridgeshire, May 1, 2017, Manor Park. Rob Taylor drives through midwicket for Norfolk. Picture: Tim FerleyUnicorns Knockout Trophy: Norfolk v Cambridgeshire, May 1, 2017, Manor Park. Rob Taylor drives through midwicket for Norfolk. Picture: Tim Ferley (Image: Tim Ferley)

Jordan Taylor (32) and Denmark took the score up to 83 before the former was bowled by Joe Barrs and although Denmark then went for 52 Rob Taylor was still there to help see the match out.

He put on 50 with Robbie Bridgstock (10) to take the score up to 163 and, with just seven required for victory, then got Norfolk over the line in the company of the skipper.

Eastern Daily Press: Matt Taylor took three wickets on his one-day debut for Norfolk, helping to beat Cambs. Picture: Tim FerleyMatt Taylor took three wickets on his one-day debut for Norfolk, helping to beat Cambs. Picture: Tim Ferley (Image: Tim Ferley)

Taylor's half century came off just 49 balls and included seven fours and two sixes.

Watson's men are back in action again on Sunday, with Northumberland providing the opposition at Manor Park. There are two more group games after that, both away, against Lincolnshire (May 14) and Cumberland (May 21).