Swardeston slipped back down to fourth place with a disappointing home draw against struggling Norwich. Norwich won the toss and chose to bat and posted 227, being all out off the last ball of their allocated 66 overs. Felix Flower was top scorer with 64 and there were two wickets apiece for Michael Eccles, George Walker and Richard Sims. In reply Peter Lambert (37) and George Walker (51) added 63 for the fourth wicket, but the hosts then lost wickets regularly and it was left to Tony Bailey (19no) and Chris Gardiner (10no) to hold out for the draw. Paul Wiseman (4-57) and Harry Bush (3-50) were Norwich’s chief wicket takers.
In Norfolk Alliance Division One the second team strengthened their grip on second place with an eight wicket win at Hales. Hales could only post 141 with A Jones left stranded on 54. Tim Price (4-33) and Neil Fox (4-54) were the chief wicket takers. In reply Swardeston completed the victory in the 28th over with Saphie Herathge unbeaten on 73.
In Division Two the thirds went down by 149 runs to Saxlingham. David Lacey (86), David Maskell (65), Antony Pearson (54) and David Adams (50no) all hit half centuries as the visitors posted an imposing 299-5. In reply Swardeston struggled to 150 with only Jonny Martin (31) providing any real resistance, for Saxlingham Ben Cudden (5-38) led the bowling dismissing the top five home batsmen.
In Division Six the CEYMS team maintained fourth position but narrowed the gap to the top with a two wicket win at Saxlingham A. Saxlingham posted 230-5 with Mark English top scoring 77 and R English unbeaten on 76. Swardeston reached the target in the final over with Peter Reynolds top scoring with 57, Tom Snelling hit 34 and Lewis Gooderham 30 and Chris Kennard saw them home with an unbeaten 35.
On Sunday the Mid Norfolk Sunday XI kept up their 100% record completing a double over Downham. James Pearson led the way with an unbeaten 110, adding 67 for the third wicket with Steve Cadge (51) and an unbeaten 72 for the fifth wicket with captain Ben Hogg (27no) as Swardeston posted 231-4. In reply Downham fell short with 213-7 with only Kurt Richards (57) posting a half century. Robbie Micklethwaite and Will Kennard both took two wickets as Swardeston won by 18 runs to consolidate their lead at the top of the table.
In the Junior Carter Cup the Sharks went down by nine wickets at home to Bradenham Bears at Hilltops. With both sides already qualified it was a much weakened Sharks side that took to the field. Captain for the day Jordan Taylor scored 44 opening, but with wickets tumbling the hosts found themselves at 90-6. Mark Croft (51) and Josh Chatland (25) added 84 for the seventh wicket helping the Sharks to a more respectable 183-9.
In reply Lewis Denmark (87no) and Will Affleck (46) added 104 for the first wicket as the visitors cruised home in just 22 overs.
