Yarmouth made it three wins out of three on Saturday with a 59-run win over Drayton to retain their spot at the top of Norfolk League Division One.

After Yarmouth were inserted captain and key batsman Hak went without scoring and was quickly followed by Sole (16) and Simon Ruddick (3). Yarmouth were in trouble at 26-3 from 18 overs. Evans (2) sliced one to gully and it was 32-4. All-rounders as Ells and Richie Ruddick turned the game as they. added 84 for the 5th wicket.

Opener Mario-Ghae was recalled to the attack and claimed three wickets in a devastating four-over spell. First he bowled Ellis (35) then Manning (6) although the Yarmouth keeper was unlucky to see the ball successfully defended only to deflect backwards and trickle on to the stumps. Ruddick’s fine knock came to an end just four short of a deserved half century and with Shales (4) run out on the last ball Yarmouth closed on 145-8.

The first two balls of the reply disappeared to the boundary but Yarmouth openers Ellis and Noakes appeared to be getting more from the pitch than their Drayton counterparts and Ellis was soon in the wckets. First Sanghavi (5) was bowled and next ball Allard (0) was caught behind. Hawes survived the hat-trick ball and together with opener Wright took the score past 50. The runs started to dry up when Shales entered the fray with the spinner forging a match winning combination with the pace of Ellis. The pair shared five wickets in a devastating six -over spell which saw Drayton collapse from 56-2 to 65-7. First Wright (12) miscued a catch to cover off Shales before Ellis removed Chelladurai (0) and Dave (4) in short order.

Hawes (24) was next to go, caught and bowled by Shales. Drayton were now relying on Hunt, batting down the order at seven and Mario-Ghae, a destructive hitter who could win it on his own.

The partnership never got going as Ellis (5-27) clean bowled Mario-Ghae (0). Hunt was stranded by the tail as Shales ripped through the last three wickets to record remarkable figures of 9.5-6-8-5. Drayton finished all out for 86.

Apollo Tavern Man of the Match – Alex Ellis who starred with both bat and ball for the home side.

Under-strength Yarmouth A team travelled to newly-promoted Hardingham A. The Hardingham opening bowlers accounted for Adam Cory (12) with the score on just 23 and only two further runs were added before Keith Nichols (9) was on his way back to the pavilion. James Doggett did well to dig in and protect his wicket before being bowled by the line and length of Townsend for 5.

Thompson departed for 23, leaving Yarmouth 61-4. Some fine hitting from Stapley (36) helped Yarmouth pass the century mark before he was eventually caught on the boundary off the bowling of Fowle and Yarmouth were dismissed soon afterwards for just 106.

A fine diving catch at slip from the veteran Nichols off the bowling of Lokesh was enough to account for Fowles (30) but Hardingham won by nine wickets.

Man of the match – Noel Stapley for a solid 36.