The weekend started with a good win for the Under 17’s at Hilltops on Friday night in the Junior Carter Cup. The defending cup holders restricted Coltishall Wanderers to 122-8 from their 24 overs. Jordan Taylor taking 5 for 35 at the end of the innings, combined with especially tight bowling from Josh Chatland, Toby Rider and Matthew Taylor. In reply Aaron Murphy and Jordan Taylor added 85 for the first wicket to see Swardeston to the verge of a seven wicket victory.
On Saturday the first team stretched their lead at the top of the EAPL with an impressive five wicket victory over Cambridge Granta at The Common. An excellent all round performance contained the visitors to 230-9 off their 66 overs, Matt Friedlander rescuing Granta from 60-5 with an assured 87. In reply a third wicket partnership of 116 between Jaden Hatwell and Peter Lambert provided the backbone to the successful chase, Hatwell was out for 75, but Lambert, currently in a rich vein of form, saw the leaders home with an unbeaten 90, his highest EAPL score, containing 3 sixes and eleven fours with 14 overs to spare.
Swardeston A strengthened their second place in Alliance Division One with a six wicket win at Bradfield. Dale Reynolds, Chris Gardiner and Jimmy Nicholls all took three wickets and 13 year old Matthew Taylor took 1 for 37 from his ten overs, Nick Whitehouse providing Bradfields only resistance with 59. In reply Swardeston, Jordan Taylor (39) and Ben Hogg (30) set the visitors on course, Ben Shearing (47*) and skipper Peter Thomas (21*) seeing them home.
Swardeston B went down by seven wickets at Dereham in Division Two, Jon Olpin (38) and Rob Ebbage (35) added 54 for the first wicket, but the visitors crumbled from 87 for 1 to 133 all out. Gary Starling and Duncan Hewitt taking three wickets each. Two wickets for Josh Waterman helped reduce Dereham to 37-3 but Jake Anema (63*) and Neil Irons (55*) saw Dereham home.
Swardeston CEYMS missed a win by just three runs as they had to settle for a losing draw at Mattishall A. P Beaumont hit 85 for the hosts who posted 240-8. Ollie Kennard was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 14 and Jason Reynolds returned 3 for 29. Robbie Bridgstock hit 64 and Tom Snelling 55 as Swardeston closed on 238-8. M Fordham taking 4 for 66 for the hosts.
Sunday’s Mid Norfolk League game at Stow saw just one over bowled before a torrential downpour put paid to further prospects of play.
