The next Norfolk Alliance Premier Division game is at home against champions Downham, and Acle must raise their game to get their season back on track after losing at Lowestoft.

The next Norfolk Alliance Premier Division game is at home against champions Downham, and Acle must raise their game to get their season back on track after losing at Lowestoft.

Acle travelled to Lowestoft in a game was important for both sides in order for them to stay in touch with the top two.

Lowestoft won the toss and elected to bowl on a track which was very wet after the heavy showers that morning and which, for some reason, was ot covered.

Acle had made changes due to unavailability and injuries, and second-team captain Geoff Handley was promoted and opened the batting with Adam Munford.

Despite the wet wicket, the pair set about the Lowestoft seam attack early on, with boundaries a plenty and good running between the wickets. Handley looking particularly good was relishing the chance to make his mark in the first team.

But with the score on 61, disaster struck when he misjudged a Simms slower ball and was caught and bowled for 34 in the 10th over.

Matt Short was trapped lbw by Simms shortly after, and when Adam Munford (29) was run out in the following over, Acle's middle order folded, mainly thanks to the bowling of Mostert. The innings finished with the score on 127 in the final over.

Acle needed something special to turn the game around and Newman provided the early spark they needed. He was too quick for overseas star Mostert, who tried to pull him over mid-wicket but the ball went straight up in the air to Jon Lee.

Newman removed Simms and Smith shortly after and Acle were in the game at 24-3. Garrod and Storey consolidated and somehow managed to survive Newman's opening spell.

Acle's other seamers Rowe and Lee bowled without success, as did Sidell, but Matty short and the returning Newman set about the middle order.

Short bowled Garrod and Newman eventually removed the stubborn Storey and then Bishop, and with a run-out in between Lowestoft found themselves in trouble again at 103-7.

Vital runs were then lost by inaccurate bowling, but when Short bowled T Brice with the score on 122-8, Acle still sensed a chance. Rowe then clean bowled B Brice, only for the umpire to call a no ball.

Brice managed to survive the over and Lowestoft reached their target with two wickets in hand.

Acle did well to drag themselves back into the game, mainly due to bowling from man-of-the-match Paul Newman, who finished with figures of 13 overs, five maidens 5-19.

Acle beat Norwich by 84 runs in the Coronation Cup semi-final and will now face Ashmanhaugh or Yarmouth in the final at Martham on Wednesday, July 16.

Runs from Rob Porter (35), Tom Wilson (45) and Paul Munford (36 no) contributed towards the daunting 168-5 total. Josh Rowe starred with the ball taking 5-32.