Hemsby’s visit to a wet Costessey pitch for the Norfolk League Division Three game against Rackheath began with skipper Richard Hudson losing his ninth toss out of eleven.

Not surprisingly Hemsby were asked to bat first. Maxwell made 15 and Hudson 29.

Hemsby lost wickets throughout the innings, but Shane O’Connor held the innings together for a well-played 47.

At 121-8 Hemsby looked finished but Josh Colk, 13, scored his first league runs and ground out a vital 15 run partnership for the ninth wicket.

The innings closed at 138-9. Pick of the Rackheath bowling being P. Banham who took 3-25 from his 12 overs. Hudson bowled Rymarz with a ball which pitched outside off and hit leg but the dangerous Jo-Jo and Brown advanced the Rackheath score to 25.

Peter Tilbrook then produced a spell of 5-2 to leave Rackheath reeling at 33-6.

This slipped further to 58-8 with Alan Maxwell taking two wickets.

Surely Hemsby were home now but Tilbrook and Hudson were bowled out.

What happened next was an unbelievable stand of 64 for the ninth wicket between number 9 May and number 10 Williams. Hudson turned to his Essex Geordie Simon Walker who removed May for a well played 36.

This was four short of May’s highest score. Next over Maxwell removed Williams.

Hemsby had won a great game of cricket by 16 runs.

Tilbrook’s figures were 12-5-25-5 and Maxwell’s 5.1-1-20-3. Walker somehow bowled 5 overs for one run.

This was Peter Tilbrook’s best-ever bowling performance for Hemsby.

But man of the match was Shane O’Connor for holding the innings together.

The win left Hemsby still bottom of a very close league.