ON a drizzly day top-of-the-table Martham travelled to face Ashmanaugh A looking to consolidate their position as Norfolk League Division Seven title contenders and saw their captain, C McGleave, brighten the day with an innings of 170 not out.

ON a drizzly day top-of-the-table Martham travelled to face Ashmanaugh A looking to consolidate their position as Norfolk League Division Seven title contenders and saw their captain, C McGleave, brighten the day with an innings of 170 not out.

It not only laid the foundations of a win, despite Broughton's 104 for the opposition, it set a new best in the

Roll of Honour which was prevously

146 not out.

On what looked like a good batting track McGleave won the toss and chose to bat, with early movement the openers struggled and last week's centurion Punchard was caught behind down the leg side for four.

Captain McGleave then joined Allen at the crease and although both rode their luck the score reached 70-1 in the 15th over before Allen (35) was trapped lbw by a ball that kept low off Saunders.

Two further wickets fell quickly Evans (5) and Bilton (0) as the score reached

130-4.

Fairbrother then joined McGleave and the game then swung in Martham's favour when McGleave, still riding his luck at times, passed 100 and Fairbrother looked in good touch at the other end.

Martham continued to plunder some at times poor bowling and in the end the pair had added 158 runs in just 17 overs with the innings being declared on a massive 286-4 after just 38 overs.

McGleave finished on a career-best 170 not out including eight sixes and Fairbrother with a faultless 51 not out.

This score would be a huge effort for a young and inexperienced Ashmanaugh side but they started well moving to 49-1 in the 10th over against some poor Martham bowling, a rare sight this season.

Ashmanaugh continued to bat well with Nicholls (23) and Jenkins (32) providing support to the excellent Broughton.

The young skipper played some fantastic shots if lucky at times past his 50.

After 30 overs they had reached 160-3 and were well in the game Broughton went on to make his maiden century before the crucial breaktrough when Evans had him caught behind for 104.

Martham then took control and Ashmanaugh, despite a superb 24 from the young Billing were all out

for 228.

Martham were pleased to get maximum points but a young Ashmanaugh side can be proud of their battling efforts when they could easily have folded.