Halvergate welcomed an unbeaten Rocklands side to Wickhampton Road in extremely windy conditions and recorded a five-wicket win in Norfolk Alliance Division Five.

It was a good result for the Hares, set up by a sound bowling and fielding performance in difficult conditions.

After winning the toss the skipper decided to bowl first in the overcast and blustery conditions.

Crane’s decision was vindicated as he and his opening-spell partner, S Fox, restricted Rocklands to 13 runs off the first 10 overs, whilst also taking two wickets including Rocklands’ dangerman W Defoe for a duck.

Shaun Howley and Mark Shepstone continued the good work by restricting the Rocklands batsman to a modest run rate with the score 89-3 at 30 overs.

Spinner Kevin Millington was introduced and removed batsman at regular intervals finishing with figures of 3-15 from seven overs. The Rocklands’ innings finished on 168-8 from 46 overs.

The Halvergate reply started with a new opening partnership of Steven Clarke and Paul Southam, and they began well with a stand of 40 before Southam was bowled for six.

The previous week’s century maker Luke Hannant built on the foundation laid by the opening pair before Clarke fell for a positive 47 with the score on 71 after 20 overs.

Pat Hill then began building an unbeaten, match-winning half-century. L Hannant was caught and bowled for 31 and when Chris Key fell cheaply the Halvergate reply began to wobble.

However, the introduction of new player Barney Stuttard provided good support to Hill and a partnership of 40 meant Halvergate closed in on victory.

Stuttard fell just before the total was reached for 25 and it was left to Hill to finish the game with a firmly-struck boundary.

Rocklands: M Walker c S Fox b T Crane 33, J Noonan bowled S Fox 0, W Defoe c C Key b S Fox 0, S Amaer b T Crane 77, G Mann st C Key b K Millington 16, S Carr c Clarke b K Millington 3, S Pearce not out 6, L Abel lbw K Millington 4, R Smith c Clarke b S Howley 12, L Dodson not out 0; extras 16. Total 167-8. Bowling: S Fox 8-3-17-2, T Crane 12-2-37-2, S Howley 11-3-47-1, M Shepstone 8-1-34-0, K Millington 7-0-15-3.

Halvergate: S Clarke c-b R Smith 47, P Southam b R Smith 6, L Hannant c-b R Smith 31, P Hill not out 55, C Key c Amaer b R Smith 0, B Stuttard c Unknown b S Amaer 25, M Shepstone not out 0; extras 4.Total 168-5. Bowling: S Carr 8-4-12-0, L Dodson 7-1-34-0, R Smith 12-4-44-4, J Powell 5-0-40-0, S Pearce 9-3-27-0, S Amaer 2.3-1-7-1.