Cricket: North Runcton stay top as West Norfolk sides dominate Alliance

North Runcton CC 1st XI stay top as West Norfolk sides continue to dominate the top of the Cecil Amey Norfolk Cricket Alliance standings, with local teams occupying four of the top five places.

Mark Skipper top-scored with 71 on Saturday as Runcton won their Premier Division home encounter with Dereham by 135 runs.

Skipper added 93 for the fourth wicket with Nick Freeman (45 not out) while Runcton set 232-6 from their 45 overs.

Jack Major starred with the ball, taking 4-20 off eight overs as Dereham were skittled for 97. Ben Coote and Joshua Ring bagged three wickets apiece.

North Runcton are top with 179 points, leading the way from second-spot Fakenham by 14 points.

Fakenham defeated visitors Diss by 86 runs.

Downham Town, in third place, agonisingly lost a reduced overs match at home to Cromer by six runs.

The visiting side were dismissed with three balls remaining at the Memorial Field after collapsing from 153-3, with Fletcher Coutts taking 3-29 and Robert Hooton 3-33.

In reply, after openers Ian Harrison and Jason Porter fell cheaply, home skipper Patrick Yates top-scored with 36, but although five of the top seven made a good start, none went on to compile a big match-winning score.

Scores involving West Norfolk sides: Downham Town CC 174-9 (35.0) 7pts lost to Cromer 180 all out (34.3) 22pts.

Fakenham 226-7 (50) 25pts beat Diss 140 all out (39.5) 4pts.

North Runcton 232-6 (45.0) 25pts beat Dereham 97 all out (32.0) 3pts.

Fifth-spot Stow vs Garboldisham was cancelled due to wet morning weather, with both sides garnering five points.

In Division One, fifth-place Swaffham, who were 154 all out in 38.4 overs, lost to Topcroft by 129 runs. Opener Alexander Payne scored 48.

Snettisham are second in Division Four after winning a high-scoring game at Cromer 2nds by 4 wickets.

Snettisham chased down 282-5 with an over to spare thanks to Ryan Twiddy notching 109, fellow opening bat Jonathan Forder 67 and Lewis Jeavons 39.