HALVERGATE slipped to second place in Norfolk Alliance Division Five after a 10-wicket defeat at third-placed Cromer A.Halvergate were asked to set a total for only the second time this season.

HALVERGATE slipped to second place in Norfolk Alliance Division Five after a 10-wicket defeat at third-placed Cromer A.

Halvergate were asked to set a total for only the second time this season. Ten runs came from the first five overs then N Taylor produced two good balls to remove the in-form Halvergate openers.

There was a small recovery by Simon Brister and Kelvin London until they too both fell in quick succession to leave the Hares 58-4 after 20 overs.

Stephen Cooke and Pat Hill added 44 runs for the fifth wicket before Hill was lbw for 16 and the innings took a down turn. Cooke finished on 54 not out, but the innings faded out in the 44th over on 146.

The Cromer openers set off aggressively and offered a couple of difficult chances that the Hares did not accept. With the onset of a rain shower, the batsmen upped the pace and in only 17 overs had taken the score to 102 with captain A Lithins reaching his half century.

Another catch was put down in the field and as the rain drifted away so did Halvergate's chances. Cromer cruised to their target in the 25th over without the loss of a wicket with Lithins finishing on 85 and R Graveling on 51.

This was a disappointing performance from Halvergate, but they can take heart from a successful first half to the season with seven wins, one losing draw and one loss. They face another important game at home this week against new leaders Bradenham A.

Eden Resourcing MoM: Stephen Cooke for his innings of 54 not out.

ROLLESBY visited Aldborough in a quick return Norfolk League Division One fixture, after last week's no result and lost by 197 runs.

This was a poor day and Rollesby will look to an improvement in the second half of the season.

Aldborough elected to bat under overcast skies, and with Troy Allan making 155no, taking advantage of missed chances, set 238-8. N Flett left the field with a fractured toe which left Rollesby a man light for the second half of the innings.

Then Paul Reeve took 7-16 as Rollesby, already a batsman down, put only 41 on the board.

Filby Kings Head MoM: Chris Alger (1-37).

ROLLESBYA, in Norfolk League Division Six, entertained high-flying Sprowston C who chose to bat first on a nice looking pitch prepared by the apprentice groundsman.

They reached 31 before Websdale bowled a gem which Keene (17) edged to wicketkeeper Fakes. With runs now starting to flow the breakthrough finally came when R Squire (53) was caught by Gerdes off Barnden, having put on a partnership of exactly 100 with his son. The introduction of Price, the eighth bowler to be used, paid immediate dividends when dangerman C Squire (77) was clean bowled.

The returning Websdale took the next two wickets to fall, before Price and Barnden mopped up the tail, the Sprowston innings ending on 233 all out. Price took four of the last five wickets to fall and ending up with figures of 5-28, ably supported by Websdale 3-43 and Barnden 2-32.

Websdale and Price put together an opening partnership of 40 before Price (16) was run out going for a tight single. He was almost immediately followed by Websdale (19). Rollesby continued to lose wickets, with only Fakes (14), Gerdes (21) and Endall (15) reaching double figures and were bowled out for 115. The result was a win for a good Sprowston side by 118 runs.

Filby Kings Head MoM: Brian Price f5-28.

ROLLESBY entertained a youthful Gressenhall side in Mid Norfolk Sunday League RJ Bidwell Division Three.

Gressenhall elected to bat in perfect conditions. However, they lost skipper Woods first ball and with England, G Barndham, W Barndham, Simnett and Browning doing the damage the visitors 126 all out from only 24 overs.

Rollesby's J Flett and R Sparkes, put on 24 before Flett was first out for seven. Rollesby then continued to lose wickets,unable to create the partnership which would have won the game, with only Sparkes (17), Alger (10) and Browning (25 no) reaching double figures in a score of 86, which was a disappointing total given the conditions. Gressenhall stuck to their task and gained a deserving victory.

Filby Kings Head MoM: Patrick Endall (4-25).

WINTERTON got back to winning ways with a comfortable 82-run Norfolk League Division One win at home to Shipdham.

Surprisingly, Shipdham inserted Winterton on a hard-looking track with Bryn Clarke and Josh Austin (44) batting patiently to add 104 for the first wicket. Geoff Roper added 64, but it was Clarke whose fine innings of 94 (his best score for Winterton) who stole the show helping his side post 234-5 from their 45 overs.

Winterton's bowlers got a good start with Richie Larner removing both openers. D Ellis blasted the ball to the leg side boundary in a powerful innings of 47 (all but three of his runs coming in boundaries). The impressive Ben Webb removed him, which brought about the collapse of the Shipdham innings as they were dismissed for 152. Larner, Webb and Tom Whichelow all chipped in with two wickets each.

WINTERTON A travelled to Drayton and after being inserted the visitors' wickets tumbled on a regular basis until a partnership of 49 between the ever-improving Fred Playford (15) and Mark Hambrook (24) steadied the ship, although the innings closed shortly after the pair's demise. There was an injury to the visiting captain. When attempting to sweep Pepper he top-edged into his own face, a visit to hospital was the outcome.

The demoralised 10 men of Winterton took to the field, and proceeded to bowl and field as if the heart had been ripped from the side, with Drayton passing the total with 19 overs to spare.

The lack of spirit was visible in the players' body language and the scorecard which showed 36 extras conceded in only 26 overs.

BELTON journeyed to the UEA ground on Saturday keen to improve on the tied match with Civil Service in May and staged a fighting comeback for an exciting victory against all the odds.

Losing the toss proved crucial and Belton's Tom Knight was to rue the coin that sentenced Belton to field on a devilishly hot and muggy day. But at 17-2 the visitors were looking forward to chasing a reachable target.

I Kulatunga, as the Belton fielders generously provided him with a few lives, made a fine 102. He got excellent support for a formidable total of 238-6 from 45 overs.

Ali's 2-63 from 12 led the bowlers but the introduction of Dale Jackson, 2-11 from three overs, and Gary Warner, 1-8 from three including the dangerous Kulatunga, did at least stem the run riot.

At 30-2 Belton were eagerly searching for someone to emulate the prolific Kulatunga. Saj Ali did his best in smacking an invaluable 85 and he received excellent support from club stalwart, Kevin Barnes - making a welcome return - who held the chase together with 43 not out. As the overs ticked by pressure began to tell on the home bowlers and fielders.

Farhad Khan whacked a quick 11 to keep the required scoring rate manageable and with Dale Jackson and Cameron Nichols snatching some spine-tingling singles it went to the last two overs with Belton needing 18 to win. Belton reached the finish line with one ball to spare as Barnes shepherded the tail home.

MARTHAM visited Norwich and Coltishall in Norfolk League Division Four, batted first and were quickly reduced to 8-2.

Beckett joined Sayer at the crease and by sensible batting put on a stand of 90 with Sayer scoring a solid 29. A mini collapse then occurred with Beckett scoring a brilliant 56, considering the unpredictable wicket an excellent score. Spencer and S Randall built a score of 195 with Spencer ending four short of his half century and M Randall scoring a quick 12.

Coltishall were reduced to 58-3 with three wickets for Dunn and some sharp catches plus tight support bowling of Ewing, S Randall and Sayer. Good scores of Hane 53 and Buttifont 31 meant a tight finish but through brilliant fielding Martham secured victory by just 12 runs. With a weakened team this was a super performance.

HEMSBY in Norfolk League Division Six won the toss and batted against Horsford C. They got off to the usual explosive start with Colclough hitting the first ball for six and taking a further 10 off the remainder of the over.

Whatmough took 10 off the second over. With Boylan he added 101 in 12 overs. When he was caught he had scored a league best 63. Tye 52 not out and Holmes also added league bests with 52 not out and 44 respectively.

In total 39 boundaries were hit in the innings including 10 sixes, five of these were hit by Boylan. No maidens were bowled in the innings as Hemsby recorded the highest score by any cricket side in Norfolk, 276.

Hemsby's failure to bowl the home team out at 198-7 meant they slipped from second to third, despite having won the most games in the league.

MoM: Yussi Tye.

BLUNDESTON, against Old Catton were asked to bat at a humid Southtown in Norfolk League Division Seven.

Nick Mobbs (30) and Graeme Talbot built a good base. Elliot Gooch (5) and Martin Talbot (nought) left Lewis Chapman and skipper Talbot to rebuild the innings. Graeme was scoring well and the introduction of Mark Bowns helped push the score along with Mark being particularly belligerent to get a club best 45 before being adjudged caught behind. Billings (3-42) then bowled Dominic Gooch off his pads before firing his hat-trick ball wide of the stumps. Mark Chapman joined the weary skipper and helped him to his century, only to be told afterwards that he has miscounted and Graeme had ended the innings on 98 not out in a total of 245-6 off their 45 overs.

The first over saw league chairman Alan Harris depart for a duck off the bowling of Elliot. Martin had batsmen playing and missing before a leg side wide from Elliot damaged keeper Goffin senior. He went to hospital but there was no break.

Mark Bowns took over as keeper and was lucky not to join Darren when one singed his eyebrows. Martin was getting wickets at the other end to end with 3-8 and Elliot finally got his third wicket thanks to a flying catch in the gully from James Shreeve to end with 3-15.

When Lewis and Adam Palmer replaced the opening pair, Adam ended up with 2-4 off nine balls and Lewis (1-7) removing Billings' middle stump. The last man out was Plunkett who skied one to Graeme for his second catch of the day and to give Blundeston a massive win by 202 runs.

An excellent team performance with everyone contributing. Norwich Union at home next week.

SOUTH Walsham defeated Lowestoft by 84 runs at South Walsham playing field.

The Walsham players were relieved when skipper Woods won the toss and decided to bat. Watkins (12), Scales (32) and Johnson and Moore (no impact) left Walsham struggling a little on 95-4.

Paul Woods then took control, hitting the ball to all parts and added 62 with father Chris before he holed out at mid wicket for just seven. With Kevin Gilbert also hitting the ball around. Paul Woods finally reached his century about 15 minutes before tea and he was finally caught for 109. Gilbert finished on 41 not out and Walsham were well pleased with a score of 233-6.

After tea Lowestoft slipped to 52-3. As they tried to lift the run rate Aventuur mistimed a hook and was caught by Johnson off Gilbert for 17. Top scorer Porter also fell to Gilbert, bowled for 42 and although Skelly hit an aggressive 20 not out, no one was able to stay with him as youngsters Dan Scales 3-32 and Jack Belton 2-5 cleared up the tail. Lowestoft finished all out on 149.

Upton White Horse MoM: A brilliant 100 from Paul Woods.

BELTON U13 entertained Mulbarton in the South Norfolk U13 League and recorded their first win ever in this competition.

Choosing to bat first on a dry pitch Belton captain, Romesh Tirimanna, was soon into his shots - his first scoring shots, five fours. He got good support from fellow opener Stephen Gopaul (8).

Tirimanna and George Savoury built a match-winning partnership of 107 with Tirimanna only perishing on the last ball of the innings for an excellent 67. Savoury was unbeaten on 32 as the innings closed on 125-2.

Mulbarton struggled to get the innings moving as Robert Etheridge and Harry Harris bowled accurately and with good pace.

Robert's three overs only cost five runs and Harry took three wickets for six runs. Andrew Page, Klayton Tyrrell, George Savour and Romesh Tirimanna also took a wicket.

Mulbarton 54 all out in 13.1 overs. A superb start to the season.

BELTON U13 had their second win of the season, against Great Melton.

Belton lost opener Romesh Tirimanna to the second ball of the innings then Stephen Gopaul and Harry Harris pushed the score on towards 50.

Gopaul strolled towards 50 with some powerful drives off the front foot and he got good support from Aston Jacobs (15 not out) but perished one run short to a good catch at square leg. Alex Moore joined Jacobs and they took the total to 105-5.

The Melton batsmen found Tirimanna and Gopaul in charge as they took four wickets for 13 runs with Stephen's 2-4 the pick.

Aston Jacobs, Daniel Tennyson, Gopaul and Tirimanna all picked up a catch as Belton put in an exemplary fielding performance in restricting the home side to just 60 runs.

Daniel Tennyson and Reece Milham also picked up a wicket as Melton were dismissed with two overs to spare.