North Runcton maintain unbeaten start by defeating Old Buckenham in Norfolk Alliance Premier Division
Premier Division leaders North Runcton recorded another win in South Norfolk, beating Old Buckenham by 96 runs.
The victory leaves them a few points ahead of Fakenham in the table, ahead of their top-of-the-table meeting on June 14.
Asked to bat first on a slightly green wicket, Kirwin Christoffels and Ben Skipper opened the innings and started patiently.
The stand was progressing nicely until Skipper fell with the score at 33-1 in the seventh over.
Jacob Lockheart was next in and, having made four off 23 balls, his first aggressive shot looped and was caught off the bowling of former Downham stalwart Ian Harrison, always a thorn in the side of Runcton over the years.
Alec Payne was the next to fall after compiling a well-struck 26 off 21 balls, including three fours and a six.
Jasper Payne joined Christoffels and the two had a partnership of 91, with Christoffels reaching his half-century (59 balls) and Payne falling one short with 49 (off 53 balls).
Ben Coote was caught for 29 off 23 balls (1 four and 3 sixes).
Odi Modimokoane made 15 not out (15 balls) and played fluently while Christoffels was once again on top form, making a sublime century, eventually making 139 not out (141 balls with 13 fours and a six).
Runcton finished their 50 overs on 320-5.
Old Bucks never really looked like they were in the hunt to take victory.
Runcton opened the bowling with Lucas Triffitt and Odi Modimokoane.
The former bowled five overs (half of the 10-over power play) and Modimokoane just three overs, allowing Christoffels to join the action in the ninth over.
Christoffels never fails to amaze, taking the wickets of Matthew Bint clean-bowled for 19, the key wicket of Sharma, who was going well with 32 off 35 balls, brilliantly caught by Jack Hazel, taking a catch flying high to his right.
Hazel took a second catch off Christoffels to leave Old Buckenham on 70-3.
The ship was steadied by a partnership of 71 before Skipper pouched a catch off the bowling of Michael Annakin.
Coote eventually made a bowling appearance, protecting his hamstring injury, to pick up two wickets.
Old Buckenham tried their best to reach 225 for another batting point but fell one run short after a tight final over from Lockheart.
North Runcton bowling figures: Modimokoane 0-29 off 10 overs, Triffitt 0-62 off nine, Christoffels 3-23 off six, Payne 0-23 off eight,
Annakin 1-42 off eight, Coote 2-17 off six, and Lockheart 0-18 off three.
MoM: Kirwin Christoffels.
