Winterton and Martham served up an exciting local derby in Division Three of the Norfolk Alliance at the Hambrook Oval on Saturday.

Visitors Martham ended up claiming the points to maintain their promotion push, but it was desperately tight as they edged home by just 15 runs.

After winning won the toss and electing to field first Winterton did well to restrict their high-flying opponents to 219-9 in their 45 overs.

Jack Whatmough top scored with 44 while Finn Grist weighed in with a useful 43 from No 8 as Danny Snowling took 3-18.

In reply Winterton were going well on 141-3, with Wesley Noble-Parker making 56 and Ben Utting 44, but then the wickets started to tumble and they were bowled out in the penultimate over with the winning line in sight.

Archie Scott was Martham’s most successful bowler, taking 4-28.

Martham, who are just two points behind leaders Great Melton at the halfway stage of the season, visit Old Buckenham A tomorrow while Winterton host North Runcton A.

Garboldisham A and Bircham are continuing to set a hot pace in Division Four, with both teams winning again.

Leaders Garboldisham came through a tough fixture at third-placed Sheringham with a hard-fought 23-run success after being restricted to 174. The Lobsters made a spirited reply, but it was the visitors who took the spoils after Rory Olpin had weighed in with figures of 4-11.

Bircham didn’t have to work so hard for their victory over Mundford after getting all the way up to 313-5 in their 45 overs, with Shaun Fisher making 128. Liam Crompton then took 5-33 as Mundford were bowled out for 170 (Robin Yates 52).

Beccles moved back to the top of Division Two as they beat Downham A in a low scoring game while Topcroft were losing to fellow promotion chasers Ashmanhaugh and Barton Wanderers.

The in-form Alex Wright took 5-22 and Matt Lowe 3-25 to bowl out Downham for just 102, but the visitors then lost six wickets themselves before clinching the victory. The runs flowed far more freely at Barton Turf, with Topcroft making 230-9 and Wanderers replying with 234-4.

In Division Six Dereham A’s Neal Widdows took 6-8 as Hales & Loddon were bowled out for 70.