Great Yarmouth (166 for nine) maintained their unbeaten start to their Norfolk League Division One season with a 62-run victory at Shipdham (95).

They are second behind Rollesby by 1.4 average points.

Losing the toss for the first time this year, Yarmouth were asked to bat first on a damp, two-tone pitch that promised a bit of help to the bowlers.

Sole and Fitzsimmons started positively with Sole finding a few early boundaries. Opening bowler, the veteran Raven, was called back into service and he gave nothing away, conceding only three runs from his first seven overs.

Hunt from the other end forced the breakthrough, exploiting the variable bounce to get Fitzsimmons (5) caught behind.

The in-form Hak (15) joined Sole and was quickly into his stride before surprising everyone by hitting a bullet of a drive into the midriff of Riches at extra cover, who clung on to the catch.

Hunt (3-54) picked up his third wicket when he bowled Simon Ruddick (12). Yarmouth were reasonably placed at 66-3 from 24 overs and the change bowling was to be key.

Sole and Derry moved the score along to 90 before Sole’s less than fluent innings came to an end when he was caught at long-on for 37.

Derry (15) followed shortly after when he pulled a short ball back to the bowler for a well-taken return catch and Yarmouth were 94-5. This quickly became 101-6 when Nicholls (5) was caught behind.

For the first time this season Yarmouth had lost more than four wickets, and the lower middle order were forced to dust off their pads. They didn’t disappoint.

Ellis (13), Richie Ruddick (22) and Noakes (19) played great cameos as they took the game away from the home side. The trio helped Yarmouth to close on 166 for nine.

Both Yrmouth openers struck inside three overs. Vickers bowled Dodd (0) before Talbot (5), batting with excessive aggression, edged Ellis to gully. Hunt tried to steady the ship but wickets tumbled around him. Vickers accounted for key batsman Hammond (6) when he clipped a low chance to Noakes at mid-on.

Ellis (2-17) kept pace when Read (0) clipped one to Sole at square leg, who eventually completed a juggling catch. Robson (6) was soon removed, bowled by Vickers (3-29). Noakes was soon in on the wickets removing Howlett (6) and then the key man Hunt (29) caught behind.

Spalding (28) with Riches (7) delayed the inevitable but R Ruddick (2-12) accounted for both batsmen to secure the win.

The Apollo Tavern man-of-the-match: Jack Noakes for a fine all round performance, 19 runs, two wickets and two catches.

Great Yarmouth: M Sole c Raven b Talbot 37, L Fitzsimmons c Hammond b Hunt 5, S Hak c Riches b Hunt 15, S Ruddick b Hunt 12, N Derry caught b Talbot 15, K Nicholls c Hammond b Spalding 5, A Ellis caught b Talbot 13, R Ruddick caught b Spalding 22, J Noakes b Talbot 19, P Vickers not out 6, W Johnston not out 0; extras 17. Total (9 wkts) 166. Bowling: Hunt 12-1-54-3, Raven 12-7-13-0, Spalding 11-1-44-2, Talbot 10-0-46-4.

Shipdham: P Dodd b Vickers 0, K Talbot c Hak b Ellis 5, J Hunt c Derry b Noakes 29, M Hammond c Noakes b Vickers 6, J Read c Sole b Ellis 0, B Robson b Vickers 6, C Howlett c R Ruddick b Noakes 6, N Riches c S Ruddick b R Ruddick 7, J Spalding c Noakes b R Ruddick 28, C Nicol run out 0, N Raven not out 5; extras 12. Total 104. Bowling: Ellis 8-2-17-2, Vickers 9-0-29-3, Noakes 5-0-25-2, Johnston 6-0-17-0, R Ruddick 3.1-1-12-1.