Downham Stow make winning start to Norfolk Alliance campaign
Norfolk Alliance
Premier Division
Downham Stow 260/6
beat Fakenham 237/8
by 23 runs
Reigning champions Downham Stow began their title defence with an opening-day derby victory over Fakenham.
Despite losing Ian Harrison - one of four scalps for Lloyd Marshall on the afternoon - for a duck, a second-wicket partnership of 114 between William Denny (77) and Elliot Santner (73) laid the foundations for a big home total.
Santner went on to form useful partnerships with both Addam Todd (16) and Keith Thompson (55) before a quickfire unbeaten 29 from Tom Davey saw Downham Stow to 260/6 off their allotted overs.
In reply, Ben Harvey (32), Steve Gray (29)and Luke Caswell (44) all made good starts and at one point Fakenham looked well-placed on 121/2.
But two wickets for one run stemmed their flow and, despite an unbeaten 56 from Andrew Lawrence, they fell 23 runs short of their target when the overs ran out.
Downham's Todd (4-43) did the damage with the ball, receiving valuable support from Harrison who returned the tidy figures of 10-3-26-1
Thetford 226
lost to North Runcton 258/8
by 32 runs
Runcton travelled to newly-promoted Thetford and started the new Allaince season with a 32-run victory.
They won the toss and batted and despite losing an early wicket raced along to 90 with opener Kirwin Christoffels reaching a half-century in the 15th over.
Ironically, in the same over Runcton lost their second wicket that of Mark Skipper who was trapped leg-before-wicket for 15.
Ben Coote came in at four and with Christoffels took the score to 138 in just five overs before Coote was caught off a skier for 21.
Looking set for a century, Christoffels mistimed one and was caught for 92 (13 fours).
The trio of Jon Forder (22), Harry Lankfer (16), and George Rawlings (12) all looked comfortable but each lost their wickets trying to force along the score as Thetford bowlers fought back.
Runcton were thankful for a belligerent 31 from Ben Skipper, scoring 19 of the 50th and last over.
In response it was a chalk and cheese opening partnership with Liam Conroy being in explosive form as he raced to 50.
By contrast his opening partner Newey struggled but somehow managed to stay until the 12th over before Michael Annakin trapped him leg-before-wicket for five.
Conroy’s scoring rate slowed but all in all he produced a magic display before being caught going for a big shot around to leg by Coote off the bowling of Major for 125 off 127 balls (16 fours and three sixes).
His contribution had kept the home team with a good chance of winning but with his dismissal it was a relief for Runcton and more difficult for the home team.
Ben Coote shuffled his bowlers well to gain victory. Christoffels (3-38), Annakin (1-50), Ben Skipper (1-41), Will Lankfer (2-42) and Jack Major (2-35).
n The match and matchball sponsor for the Norfolk Alliance Division Four fixture between Fakenham 2nds and Hethersett and Tas Valley 2nds, which was won by the visitors, was Sussex Hand Made Brick Ltd.
