By George, North Runcton inspired by Rawlings knock

Norfolk Alliance

Premier Division

North Runcton 211-6 (24pts)

beat Brooke 160 (5pts)

by 51 runs

North Runcton recorded a second Norfolk Alliance Premier Division victory in as many games.

However after winning the toss the hosts batted and were soon in trouble, losing Christoffels, bowled for nought and Mark Skipper who played on.

They were followed by Michael Crisp (14) and Ben Coote (16) after three excellent fours, to leave North Runcton on 45-4 after just 11 overs.

It was left to Jon Forder and George Rawlings to pick up the pieces and with grit and determination they slowly but carefully took the score to 157-5 with a partnership of 112.

Forder was eventually caught trying to force the score in the deep for 34 off 82 balls, a fine effort.

Only seven overs remained when Harry Lankfer joined Rawlings and he smashed 37 off 22 balls before he was out caught at 208-6.

The biggest credit was from Rawlings with 81 not out in 140 balls, an important and impressive contribution.

It allowed the hosts to reach 211-6 in the 50 allotted overs. Sheehy and Setchell took five wickets between them, with Kitson taking the other for the visitors.

In reply, Brooke lost both openers early on, both to Ben Skipper.

Flynn Drinkell (30) and their overseas Sri Lankan Nipuna Gamage (32) scored steadily before Drinkell was bowled by Christoffels and Gamage by Annakin.

Any spirited run chase thereafter was extinguished by an excellent six over spell by Will Lankfer, who caught-and-bowled the Brooke captain Bridgestock for nine, diving forward and scooping the ball just above the ground – like catching a swallow!

He also had Robson caught-behind for 15 and ended with 2-15.

Ben Skipper claimed 4-27 off 6.1 as the visitors were finally all out for 160 in the 44th over.

Mike Annakin 1-35 off eight, Jack Major 2-41 off 10 and Kirwin Christoffels 2-33 off 10 were the other wicket takers.

Matchball sponsor: David Apps.

In the other Premier Division game, Downham suffered a resounding ten-wicket defeat at Cromer.

George Cook made the only telling contribution as Downham were dismissed for just 153 and the Cromer openers made light work of the run chase, reaching their target after 28.3 overs.

Fakenham won their clash at Diss by 10 wickets after bowling out their hosts for 125.

Elsewhere, the Division Four clash between Fakenham A and Denver, which the hosts won by seven wickets, was sponsored by Repco Rooftiles Ltd, while the matchball sponsor was Chris Crane, painter and decorator.