Caister welcomed Hardingham to Allendale Road intent on registering their first victory of their Norfolk League Division Two adventure, having only narrowly been defeated last week at Drayton.

Caister welcomed Hardingham to Allendale Road intent on registering their first victory of their Norfolk League Division Two adventure, having only narrowly been defeated last week at Drayton.

As with last year a great team effort, topped by the century from Brown, brought a great victory.

Skipper Sims made it two out of two, winning the toss and inserting Hardingham.

Sims and J Kerrison bowled a miserly line and length only allowing 24 runs from the first 14 overs, with J Kerrison accounting for opener Cook.

Breame and Goodrum were solid for Hardingham, playing steadily and starting to accumulate runs and picking up the pace before Breame was caught in the deep by the safe hands of Wedon for 44.

Goodrum started monopolising the strike and took the attack to the Caister bowlers, ending unbeaten on 96, with Hardingham 197-3.

At tea Caister were confident but knew that big innings were required from the top order.

They were not disappointed. In the absence of S Kerrison due to injury, J Kerrison opened with the ever-present Stokes and they started steadily. J Kerrison decided to “sacrifice” his wicket to allow R Brown to come to the crease, a talented batsman always one innings away from a big one.

However, this was to be his day as he and Stokes took a liking to the Hardingham bowling and sprayed the ball to all parts in a chanceless performance.

The score rose quickly as first Brown, then Stokes reached and passed 50. Brown was in full flow and unstoppable, racing past his previous highest score and registering his maiden century.

The second wicket stand was worth 184 when Stokes holed out, for a commendable 65, trying to score the boundary to gain Caister an extra batting point. Brown was undone by a great catch for 106, leaving R Kerrison to come in and score the necessary boundary to take Caister to 200 and a great victory.

Midas Components Man of the Match - R Brown.

In Mid Norfolk Sunday League Division Four Caister travelled to Bacton and enjoyed a close and fine-spirited match.

Caister captain N Johnson won the toss and elected to bat. Caister started well with Stokes accumulating runs against good swing bowling of Howes, who accounted for P Brown for seven and R Brown for a duck.

G Talbot steadied the ship, batting solidly, and when Stokes was caught for 20, G Talbot was joined by his son M Talbot and the two of them put on 56 for the fourth wicket when G Talbot was bowled for 54.

M Church added a fine 19 including a stylish six but Howes ended on a commendable 5-26 as Caister lost a few cheap wickets towards the end and were bowled out for 145, which on a good batting pitch seemed to be a few short.

However, Caister bowlers were up for the task and runs were hard to come by against C Tennant (14 runs from 10 overs) and M Ali (2-29) but the score kept rising as the batsmen nurdled singles then stuck the occasional boundary.

Lester contributed 63 for Bacton and Howes swung his bat with growing success. T Sims provided a tidy mid-innings spell of 3-19 which left Bacton needing 12 from the last two overs, which they managed when Olley edged a boundary through the slips.

This was a great competitive game with tough cricket but great banter throughout.

Mortgage Solutions Man of the Match: G Talbot.