Rollesby 216-8 (24pts) beat Old Catton 204-6 (9) by 12 runs in Norfolk League Division One

Rollesby travelled to Postwick to face Old Catton in the first of three games against their closest rivals in Norfolk Cricket League Division One.

Eventually Rollesby ran out winners by 12 runs with D Cool bowling an excellent spell at the death.

Credit must go to both sides for an excellent game of cricket played in a superb atmosphere.

Rollesby remain unbeaten and will look to push on this weekend when they host second-place Great Yarmouth.

Rollesby skipper Duxbury for once called correctly and elected to bat first on a good-looking wicket.

This decision was soon vindicated as Duxbury and opening partner Baker soon had the scoreboard ticking along nicely. It was a surprise when, in the ninth over, Duxbury chipped Harris to midwicket for 24.

Until this point both openers had looked untroubled – apart from a determination to run each other out!

This brought Chaney to the wicket, who with Baker continued to punish the bad ball until, with the score on 70, Baker was given out lbw for 29 despite an unconvincing appeal.

Cook soon departed for six but S Alger came to the wicket and was quickly into his stride, dominating a 40 partnership with Chaney until he was dismissed by Lakey for 34.

Chaney was playing a very uncharacteristic barnacle-like innings with crease occupation seeming to be his goal.

But once Browning and C Alger were dismissed Chaney exploded into action, dominating the scoring in a 62 partnership with D Cool that took Rollesby past the 200 mark.

When Chaney was eventually dismissed in the last over for an excellent 84 which included three huge sixes he had taken Rollesby to a competitive total.

Grimble fell looking for quick runs and it was left to Cool (14no) and Sparkles (1no) to close the innings on 216-8.

Rollesby took to the field in confident mood and opening bowlers Cool and C Alger soon had Catton under pressure, giving away very little, and after 14 overs both openers had been dismissed with only 38 runs on the board.

This brought Daynes and Fossey together in the middle and the pair began to consolidate the innings before putting Catton in the driving seat with a stand of 104.

Rollesby once again missed several chances to break this stand with several catching chances going to ground.

Eventually Daynes fell to a catch on the boundary by S Alger off the bowling of Sparkles for an excellent 77.

Alger returned to bowl Fossey for 32 and the game swung back in Rollesby’s favour.

Loone and D Prime had other ideas and some big hitting and excellent running kept Catton in with a chance until the pressure became too much and both were run out looking to keep up with the required rate.

Man of the Match: C Alger 2-53.