Downham Stow maintain top spot in Norfolk Alliance Premier Division

Downham Stow maintained their position at the top of the Norfolk Alliance Premier Division table on Saturday with a resounding 156-run victory over Thetford.

The hosts won the toss and elected to bat first. William Denny (74) and Freddie Fairey (69) got off to an excellent start, attacking the powerplay and taking advantage of some loose bowling.

Both were dismissed and the innings began to stall somewhat, with only Elliot Santner (60) making a decent contribution despite running out Ben Wilcox for only two.

Thetford improved significantly in the second half with the home side’s middle-order losing wickets trying to find the ropes.

Downham Stow found themselves all out for 266 inside 50 overs.

Thetford started their reply rather slowly and failed to gain any momentum with Jamie Cook and Addam Todd bowling a very tight opening spell.

The first wicket however fell to an exceptional piece of individual brilliance from Denny with a direct hit run-out.

Wickets continued to fall throughout the innings and were shared between Wilcox, Fairey and Santner.

Downham Stow are kindly sponsored by Hart Farms.

North Runcton

lost to Garboldisham

by seven wickets

Runcton won the toss and batted and recorded their biggest opening partnership of the season, 117 between Michael Crisp and Kirwin Christoffels before the latter was bowled by Josh Rowe for 56.

Crisp top-scored with 80, his largest score of the season including 10 fours off 115 balls.

Such a promising start, the hosts were looking to go on and set a minimum 250 target but alas the thought was undermined by some less than good batting.

George Rawlings hit a simple catch around to leg for nought and other wickets fell regularly.

Most North Runcton players failed when trying to play big shots instead of looking to manipulate the play to take quick singles and twos.

Ben Coote (30) was the last wicket to fall in the final over.

After a slow, but determined, start the visitors picked up momentum before losing both openers Jonny Leech for 46 and Louis Hart for 43, both caught off the bowling of Will Lankfer.

Matt Aldin went soon after for 5, caught-behind off Kirwin Christoffels.

With the score at 102-3 off 26 overs Runcton had hope but dropped catches in the field proved costly as Garboldisham reached their target with seven wickets to spare in the 42nd over.

Christoffels (1-37) and Lankfer (2-25) were the North Runcton wicket takers.