Kirkley & Belton recorded a comprehensive 165 run win over Castle Acre at Gunton Park in Norfolk League Division One.

After being put into bat Kirkley openers Abdul Rehman and Wayne Goreham started the innings cautiously and adapted well to the conditions.

After 10 overs both openers were finding boundaries at regular intervals, picked off runs at ease and had taken the score to 147 - the best opening partnership of the season - in the 28th over when Wayne Goreham was bowled for 60.

Rehman carried on pushing the run rate up with George Savoury and reached his first hundred of the season by hitting two consecutive boundaries. He finished on 110 not out as Kirkley & Belton made 258-3.

Castle Acre were facing an uphill task and started the innings in worst possible fashion when K&B skipper Sajid Ali sent both their openers to the hut in his first two overs.

Chris Meadows made his comeback after injury and bowled an accurate spell of five overs, conceding just 10 runs and taking two wickets.

Kevin Comer cleaned the tail up by taking three wickets while conceding only five runs as Castle Acre were bowled out for 93 in 30th over of the innings.

Rehman was Kia John Grose man-of-the-match for his brilliant hundred.

Kirkley & Belton A beat Lowestoft B by nine wickets in Division 3E.

Captain Richard Daniels won the toss and put Peter Sims’ Lowestoft into bat.

Sims opened the batting himself and Kirkley knew his quality was a serious threat but David Read (10-6-8-3) again bowled impeccably, taking wickets while Sims could only watch on.

Every time it seemed somebody would stay with Sims, Kirkley struck and Neil Muirhead and Paul Hodds took three wickets each, Hodds getting Sims seventh wicket down, although it has to be said under lucky circumstances. Scott Francis got the final wicket with Lowestoft all out for 64.

It was also good to see Owen French playing for Lowestoft, a fine young cricketer and always doing his late dad Gary French proud.

Kirkley’s response was swift as they got home in the 16th over for the loss of only one wicket, with Boby Thomas unbeaten on 50. Boswell Solicitors MOM: Paul Hodds.