ACLE were rained off in their league fixture on Saturday against Swardeston A. But after fantastic work by groundsman Kevin Gilbert they were eventually able to entertain Brooke in the second round of the Bob Carter Cup, a game reduced to 50 overs per side due to the wet pitch following two days of rain.

ACLE were rained off in their league fixture on Saturday against Swardeston A. But after fantastic work by groundsman Kevin Gilbert they were eventually able to entertain Brooke in the second round of the Bob Carter Cup, a game reduced to 50 overs per side due to the wet pitch following two days of rain. The work proved worthwhile, with Acle winning by 48 runs.

This was another good team performance by Acle, and they now entertain Downham on Sunday at Bridewell Lane.

The club are hoping for a hot day and a bumper crowd on “the bank” as they attempt to reach the semi-finals for the first time in 20 years.

Brooke's overseas captain Vinyay Parikh won the toss and elected to bat on a pitch that looked as though it would be bowler friendly.

Brooke's medium/slow bowling attack seemed to suit the pitch, and they soon made inroads into the Acle batting line-up, Stuart Pritty removing opener Adam Munford for just two.

Matty Short (12) was the next to go, bowled by Jackson, although it looked as if the ball rebounded off the wicketkeeper's gloves.

Young Darren Ward then joined Rob Porter and the pair batted sensibly, knowing that a total of 150 would be a very competitive score.

But with just four overs to go until lunch, Porter looped one up to mid-off who took the comfortable catch, and Acle were 72-3.

Tom Wilson and Ward took the total up to 93 before lunch, but Wilson was trapped lbw by Prentice in the second over after lunch with no more runs on the board.

Paul Newman went first ball, and Paul Munford had the task of helping Ward to rebuild again. The pair took the score up to 121, but in the 37th over, Munford misjudged an attempted quick single to the sharp Parikh and was run out by a country mile.

Fifteen more runs were added to the Acle total and the innings finished on 135, a total that Acle knew would be competitive.

Acle went out to field in positive mood, and Brooke started nervously. Newman and Jon Lee were fired up and knew they had a good chance of removing the top order on this wicket.

Newman was the first to strike, trapping Prentice (0) lbw and then Daynes (2) caught by Michael Handley.

With the ball seaming around, Brooke's key batsmen Shearer and Parikh had the unenviable task of seeing off Newman and Lee before they could think about rebuilding.

Grady replaced Newman from the Fishley End, and was fired up in front of the big home crowd. The big Welshman fancied his chances, and was proved right when he trapped the dangerous Shearer lbw for 16, and then shortly afterwards he clean bowled overseas superstar Parikh for two.

With the key batsmen back in the hutch, Acle piled on the pressure and steadily removed Brooke's lower order, Grady ended up taking 4-17.

Rob Porter chipped in with a brace and Darren Ward and Jon Lee finished the innings with one apiece. Paul Newman also finished with impressive figures of eight overs, five maidens, 2-6.

Man of the Match: Young Darren Ward for his patient but match-winning 41 runs.