Kirkley & Belton A beat Southwold A by eight wickets in the Norfolk League.

After last week’s poor performance Kirkley needed to bounce back against a Southwold side who have struggled this season.

After being put into bat Southwold’s openers impressed, with Matty Barbrook looking very comfortable, Matty Gander finally made the breakthrough and he went on to take the first four wickets but Barbrook continued to dominate.

He was ably assisted by a couple of middle order batsmen but Neil Muirhead with two wickets, Paul Hodds with one and another very impressive spell by Simon Bessey, taking two well deserved wickets, pkept Kirkley on top. Barbrook was ninth man out after batting 43 overs for a brilliant 91, Southwold finishing on a competitive 185 all out.

Kirkley, sponsored by Alan Boswell Insurance Services, began strongly, Harvey Hebditch and Boswell man-of-the-match Kevin Barnard putting all the bad balls away. Hebditch was disappointed to fall on 43 but there clear signs than after 18 months out his form is returning. Klayton Tyrell joined Barnard at the crease and after two huge sixes he departed leg before for 13.

Dave Hayes was now at the crease and it was clear he wanted a quick finish. He and Barnard got Kirkley home in the 33rd over with Barnard 66 not out and Hayes 53 not out.

It was a good team effort and 25 valuable points. It also must be said how gallant the youngsters of Southwold were - they were a credit to their club.

Kirkley and Belton’s first team were unable to make it a double celeberation as they went down at home to Overstrand in Division One.

They were bowled out for 163, with eight players reaching double figures but Karan Sharma’s 23 being the highest score. In reply Overstrand got home by six wickets with Neil Yarham making 56.

Great Yarmouth also lost in the top flight, going down by five wickets against Saxlingham after being bowled out for 144 (Simon Ruddick 37).

There was an early finish at Blundeston in Division 2E as the hosts were dismissed for just 30 by leaders Caister, for whom Martin Hewitt returned the remarkable figures of 7.3-4-6-7. The visitors then recovered from 13-3 to win in the seventh over,