Around the cricket clubs

Acle began their Norfolk Cricket Alliance Premier Division campaign with a convincing win over Swardeston.

They opened with some wayward bowling and sloppy fielding. However, just as the home side threatened to run away with the game a superb pick up and direct hit from overseas debutant Hayden Murray removed the dangerous Zimbabwean international Brian Murphy.

It took another run out via a direct hit from coach Paul Newman for Acle to strike again. Newman then struck two further blows with the ball, through sharp catches in the slips to reduce Swardeston to 70-4.

With Acle on top, Murray's leg-spin was a constant threat and with good support from fellow spinner Roberts on his league debut Acle stemmed the flow of runs, making regular inroads.

Hogg made a fine 70 before holing out to leave Murray with the impressive figures of 4-22. A total of 146 was well below par on a fast scoring ground and Acle's openers got off to a flier, racing to 43 by the eight over. An lbw decision cut short Porter's innings on 23 but Franks (32)continued to score freely until he was deceived by a slower ball.

Acle lost a third wicket with the score on 92 when Wilson edged behind for 11 but Murray continued his excellent form and with Dave Huggins put together a composed partnership of 55 to see Acle to a seven-wicket win with over 30 overs to spare.

Man of the match: Hayden Murray

Halvergate travelled to Bradenham to make their debut in the Norfolk Cricket Alliance and put in a solid performance to win by five wickets in a Division Five game with a thrilling ending.

Halvergate opening bowlers Tom Booth and Tim Crane got the new ball moving in the air and off the wicket.

Crane stuck in his first over when Shaun Howley held a sharp catch in the slips. Booth had to wait until the last over of his spell before he bowled the opposition captain. After 14 overs Bradenham were 32 for two and a few overs later lost another wicket as Kelvin London had the other opener caught.

Bradenham No 4 M Hunter started to take control whileLondon was unlucky not to pick up any more wickets, having deceived the batsmen several times. The reintroduction of Booth changed the course of the innings when he had Hunter caught at slip by Howley for 74. Booth's pace and accuracy were too much for the lower order batsmen and in a devastating over he bowled two and had a third lbw.

At 167-9 some lusty blows from S Watts took the score to 187 before Crane had him caught behind by Clarke from his third wicket and the keeper's third catch. Booth took his first five-wicket haul for the Hares to finish with figures of 5-40.

Halvergate's Steven Clarke and Luke Hannant saw off the opening bowlers and were comfortably scoring at around four runs per over.

Baluza and Moody slowed the scoring but Clarke passed his 50 and had gone on to 77 before he was run out by a direct hit from the boundary. Hannant went on to reach his 50 but, with his partners struggling to score, was caught behind for 57 trying to step up the pace.

From needing five an over when the first wicket fell, the Hares found themselves needing 31 from four overs but with plenty of wickets in hand.

Only 14 runs came from the next three overs leaving 17 required from the final six balls. With the experienced Kelvin London on strike, the first two balls fell right in his slot and were despatched over the boundary for six. The third ball resulted in two byes but Brister ran himself out attempting a third.

With three runs needed from three balls London nudged a single to bring the new batsman, Cooke, on strike. He got bat on ball and a scrambled single tied the scores and left London to face the final ball. An inside edge down to fine leg evaded the close fielders and the resulting single took the delighted Hares to their target.

A deserved win for Halvergate who bowled, fielded and batted well. Good pre-season preparation has helped them to hit the ground running and they will be looking to continue this form at home to play Rocklands.

Winterton (26 points) beat Ketteringham Hall (8) by 65 runs in the Norfolk League Division One at Ketteringham Hall who they pipped to the Division Two title last season.

Winterton elected to bat on a very good-looking track, and despite the early loss of Bryn Clarke for 12 made good use of the conditions to score freely all round the wicket.

Wes Noble-Parker and Geoff Roper put together 76 for the second wicket before Noble-Parker was dismissed for a fluent 56. Martin Witheridge then posted a quickfire 37 to leave Winterton at 159 for three with 10 overs remaining.

Roper reached his half-century, eventually dismissed for 65, but some good running and occasional boundaries from Dan Crawley (18) and Ben Utting (21 not out) took the visitors to a very healthy 219 for seven after D Vincent had claimed a hat-trick with the final three balls of the innings to finish with four for 51 for the home side.

Ketteringham Hall lost the early wicket of M Smith to Richie Larner. Paul Sprong and R Smith looked comfortable but the fluency of runs was not there when Richie Larner claimed his second wicket to remove the dangerous Sprong with the score on 32.

The home side were content to occupy the crease but found runs hard to come by against good bowling from all of Winterton's attack.

A Bush and the aggressive R Perrera both fell for 16 which left Ketteringham struggling on 133 for five and they lost their last five wickets for 21 runs, with Tom Roper (4-38) and Tom Whichelow (3-40) Winterton's most successful bowlers.

Winterton A started the season in promising style with a fine win over Hales A in Norfolk League Division Four.

Interim captain P Drake inserted the opposition and was rewarded with a tight 18-over opening spell from M Hambrook (0-14) and M Holdsworth (3-15). They were helped by some keen fielding and positive support from all the team. Fifteen-year-old Adam Spleman (2-18) bowled with rhythm and aggression in a superb five-over spell. Aided by J Stanhope-Smith (3-17), the innings folded at 101 all out. P Bassing, (47) was the backbone for Hales.

In reply, K Lawes and K Drewitt put 20 on the board before Drewitt fell for 11 driving to mid on. Young Spleman took the attack to the bowlers and help move the score towards the total, even though wickets began to fall. After Spleman fell to slow bowler Plummer (4-18), senior player D Stanhope-Smith hit three boundaries to put Winterton only 18 from the target and it was left to F Playford and P Drake to steadily see the home side through for a deserved three-wicket win.

Fred Playford kept wicket well and gave a mature batting performance at a crucial time. Fisherman's Return MoM: Adam Spleman for his all-round performance of 22 runs and two wickets.

BELTON'S Norfolk League Division Two season got off to a slow and shaky start as they fell at the first hurdle to Loddon on the Common on Saturday.

Belton skipper Tom Knight duly obliged and had no hesitation in inserting the opposition on a greenish-looking wicket.

Sajid Ali and Cameron Nichols combined to remove the first four Loddon batsmen for 29 runs. Nichols' nine overs cost him only nine runs and included four maidens. Ali grabbed 3-34 from 10 before injury cut short his bowling work. When Gerry Jackson had Pitman caught by Ali for only four, the visitors were really struggling on 34-5.

The next bowling success was 71 runs in the making. Debenham made a fine 42 with good support from Rowson (33). Belton d�butante Liam Peake grabbed two late wickets as the home side struggled to secure the all important last bowling point. Seven bowlers were tried as Loddon closed on 144-9. Six Belton bowlers took wickets.

The Belton reply was slow in starting and featured a regular loss of wickets. Plummer and Day had reached 21 before Plummer's leg stump was removed by Baker. Day and Adam Savoury and combined solid shot selection with judicious running between the wickets. Day's departure, caught at extra cover attempting a drive, left the home team on 38-3 from 12 overs.

Savoury and Jackson took the score on to 74 when disaster struck. Jackson failed to untangle his bat from his pads and was bowled for the joint top score of the Belton innings - just 19. Savory went on to make 17 on d�but but the lower order surrendered rather too tamely.

Ali, hampered by an injury, fell to a spectacular catch by Debenham in the covers. The last four batsmen contributed just four runs and 94 was all that could be garnered. K Pitman picked up four for 24 but the late introduction of Kevin Jones was crucial. His 7.4 overs cost just five runs and included five maidens - and he picked up three wickets.

Blundeston faced Shipdham away for their first game in Norfolk League Division Seven with Scott Brindle and Mark Bowns making their league debuts. They secured a 10-wicket win.

After losing the toss, all the bowlers performed well with a good mixture of pace and seam from Elliot, Lewis, Martin and Nick and cagey spin from 'new boy' Scott and Saurabh. Young Chris Burgess also showed his potential with the swinging ball to grab his debut wicket for the club.

At drinks, Shipdham were 52-3 then wickets started to fall with Martin leading the way only for Scott to claim his first three wickets for the club and removing the middle order with impressive figures of 3-8. Shipdham were bowled out for 92 in the 37th over.

Openers Graeme and Nick Mobbs were keen to see off the new ball. Nick saw it off to most parts of the ground with a flurry of aggressive blows. Graeme showed more finesse but the pair were scoring runs in boundaries and never looked in danger as they reached the 93 required off 20 overs. Nick finished on 50 and Graeme on 34 as the pair hit 17 boundaries.