Acle got their Alliance Division One season off to a winning start with a 43-run vicory over Mattishall at a blustery Bridewell Lane.

Acle eleced to bat and openers Rob Porter and Geoff Handley got them off to a solid start with a stand of 94.

Porter was caught behind for 42, but Handley (94) continued his impressive start, and with valuable contributions from Huggins, Tom Wilson and Adam Munford, Acle finished on 249-7 from their 50 overs.

Acle soon made inroads into the Mattishall top order. Paul Newman was bowling briskly, and didn’t take long to bowl Brown and then had Lockwood caught behind by Craig Press.

Acle then went off the boil and Mattishall’s positive batting, combined with some mediocre Acle bowling, put Mattishall in the driving seat.

Cole and Chetwood put on a stand of 118 and looked favourites at the halfway stage.

Rob Porter was brought into the attack and lured Chetwood into a false shot and he was caught on the boundary by Handley.

Porter then snared Cole lbw, and Acle went on to domante from there on in with wickets from Josh Wilson on his debut, Newman (4-45) and Porter finishing with 5-30.

This was a good batting performance by Acle, but very average with the ball, and standards must be improved before their visit to Hales & Loddon tomorrow.

Man of the match: Rob Porter for his 42 runs and five wickets, closely followed by Handley. Sponsored by NJ Hunt Motor Engineer.

Acle: R Porter c Brown B Lockwood 42, G Handley b Cole 94, D Huggins c Garner 13, T Wilson lbw Cole 16, A Munford not out 18, P Munford c Spalding 1, C Press c Spalding 1, J Wilson b Cole 6, P Newman not out 9, S Roberts b J Lee; extras 49. Total 249-7. Bowling: N Gostling 9-0-40-0, M Fordham 4-2-19-0, G Chetwood 6-1-22-0, N Lockwood 13-1-54-1, M Cross 4-0-36-0, A Garner 4-1-16-1, J Cole 7-0-42-3, T Spalding 3-0-10-0.

Mattishall: C Brown b Newman 7, G Chetwood c Handley b Porter 63, N Lockwood c Press b Newman 1, J Cole lbw Porter 65, G Stolz c Porter Newman 23, M Balls b Wilson 0, T Spalding c-b Porter 1, M Cross c A Munford b Porter 4, N Gostling b Porter 11, A Garner not out 11, M Fordham lbw Newman 0; extras 21. Total 206-10. Bowling: P Newman 11-1-45-4, J Lee 6-0-32-0, G Handley 5-0-39-0, S Roberts 2-0-28-0, R Porter 10-1-30-5, J Wilson 4-0-25-1.