Swaffham recorded a fantastic two-wicket Carter Cup first round win against Sheringham, who play two divisions higher.With an almost full-strength team, captain Colin Yates won the toss and decided to bat.

Swaffham recorded a fantastic two-wicket Carter Cup first round win against Sheringham, who play two divisions higher.

With an almost full-strength team, captain Colin Yates won the toss and decided to bat.

This proved to be a good decision as it was not until the fourth over that Sheringham scored their first run - a wide. Smith and Annakin bowled well up front, with only extras really troubling the scorers.

Smith got the first wicket in the 12th over with Yates taking a stunning reaction catch at slip and with Eagle soon after getting rid of the dangerous Wright, Sheringham dug in until lunch which they reached with 78 runs for two wickets, without a boundary scored off the bat.

After lunch Sheringham's Moy and Hudson began to build a steady partnership which looked like giving them a decent total.

In this time Maurice Dye and Ian Walsh bowled tidily in tandem to keep the run rate down. Just when it looked like Sheringham might be able to reach 220-plus, Yates brought himself on and got rid of the organised Moy for 59. After this Sheringham failed to build on the platform provided by Moy and Hudson and finished with 204-9 off their 60 overs.

Swaffham started nervously, soon losing Walsh and Eagle with not many on the board.

A partnership was being slowly compiled between Reeve and Williams-Ward, but after the latter departed it was down to Yates to come in and play another skipper's innings with Reeve. Both batted very sensibly to keep out the impressive Moy to see Swaffham to tea in a strong position.

Nonetheless, soon after tea Swaffham lost Reeve and Hamilton in quick succession.It was left to the seasoned Maurice Dye to

come in and join his skipper - with 90 runs still needed, five wickets left and lots of pressure on.

The pair batted very sensibly, with Yates adopting the more aggressive approach while Maurice played an anchor role and it looked like they were going to lead Swaffham home.

However, when Yates was out for 49, the pressure was all on Maurice who, with able support from Payne and debutant Mark, was able to see Swaffham home with only two wickets in hand and lots of nervous Swaffham players looking on.

The game was finished how it started, with a wide, which was quite apt as almost 80 were conceded by both teams over the whole day.

A fantastic team effort by Swaffham, in which everyone contributed, was led by the experienced duo of Yates (49, 3-18 and two catches) and Dye Snr (21no, 12-1-27-1) who seem, like fine wine, to get better over time!

Sheringham: 204-9 off 60 overs (Moy 59, M Smith

12-4-35-2, M Annakin 11-3-44-1, M Eagle 6-2-18-1, I Walsh 12-1-38-0, M Dye Snr 12-1-27-1, C Yates 4-0-18-3, C Williams-Ward 3-0-20-0)

Swaffham: 205-8 in 56.2 overs (C Williams-Ward 22, A Reeve 33, C Yates 49, M Dye Snr 21no, A Payne 10).