Great Yarmouth completed the double over fellow Norfolk League Division Two strugglers Shipdham on Saturday as they overcame their visitors by four wickets in tense low-scoring affair.

Great Yarmouth completed the double over fellow Norfolk League Division Two strugglers Shipdham on Saturday as they overcame their visitors by four wickets in tense low-scoring affair.

With all the rain mid-week the pitch was predictably wet and Yarmouth captain Ruddick had no hesitation asking Shipdham to bat first on it.

White and Vickers took the new ball for Yarmouth and wreaked havoc amongst the Shipdham top order.

White struck first, a low bounce trapping Cox (2) plum in front and was unfortunate to not pick up his replacement Hammond immediately.

The reprieve was short lived however as Vickers claimed his first wicket as Hammond pushed to Hunter in the covers, the catch being taken in some style. Ellis (6) marched to the crease and announced his intentions as he smashed White for a straight six, only to be bamboozled by White's slower ball five balls later.

Stagles tried to lead a fightback and a brief flurry of runs saw the score to 31 before Duffield (0) became Vickers' second victim.

Oliver joined Stagles in what was developing into a battle for survival as the pair looked to see off the Yarmouth openers and as White and Vickers approached their final overs they seemed to have succeeded. Strangely, the Shipdham pair chose that moment to attack and both fell, Oliver (5) to White (3-18) and the big wicket Stagles (26) falling to Vickers (3-24).

If Shipdham had hoped for any respite from the change bowlers they were sorely mistaken as both Anguish (2-9) and Oxborough (2-16) struck in their first overs to reduce Shipdham to 46-8. Some inventive shots from Pledger (15 not out) and more orthodox from Goodby (8) saw Shipdham rally slightly but were still all out for 69.

Yarmouth have made a mess of chasing down small totals so far this year but surely a target of 70 wasn't going to pose a problem?

The reply couldn't have got off to a worse start with a wicket falling to the second ball and, with fielders close

all round the batsmen, the pressure was on.

Sole joined Ruddick and the pair looked to see off the best of the Shipdham attack, Goodby and Ellis, as they cautiously whirled the ball around knowing that the run rate was fairly meaningless.

With both openers completing their initial spells without further inroads Yarmouth were feeling relatively comfortable at 26-1 - then it all changed.

Hunt had replaced Ellis and bowled two maidens to start his spell before the carnage of his third over. First Sole (18) was well caught at short leg then Hak (0) followed two balls later before Fitzsimmons (0) was run out and 26-1 had become 26-4. Ruddick (5) was caught behind in Hunt's next over with Yarmouth stuck on 26.

Yarmouth finally managed to get the scoreboard moving again but when Derry (0) fell to Oliver the innings was in tatters at 30-6 with four ducks and two new batsmen in.

Shipdham's tails were up and Yarmouth had that “here we go again” feeling. The drinks break couldn't come quick enough and, still at 30-6, a quick rethink of strategy saw the game swing Yarmouth's way.

Vickers took the attack to the bowling with a do-or-die attitude and the boundaries started to come. Shipdham had to react by pushing fielders out and with the pressure reduced the floodgates opened.

Goodby was brought back but to no avail as Vickers deposited him over a fielders head for a six. Nicholls was joining in too and Yarmouth charged towards the finishing line with the remaining 40 runs coming in 34 balls. Vickers finished 24 not out with Nicholls 20 not out.

Burton Arms man of the match: Paul Vickers fine all round performance

3-24 and 24 not out.