Mundford hosted Alliance Division Two leaders Swardeston - and showed real character to get a winning draw.They now travel to bottom-placed Dersingham looking for another good result to push them closer to the top end of the table.

Mundford hosted Alliance Division Two leaders Swardeston - and showed real character to get a winning draw.

They now travel to bottom-placed Dersingham looking for another good result to push them closer to the top end of the table.

The Stags were asked to bat first after losing the toss. In perfect batting conditions Mundford's new opening batting partnership once again showed signs of improvement, as Bailey and Goodrham set about the visiting bowling.

Bailey was playing with a freedom seldom seen in recent years as ex-county wicket keeper Goodrham was happy to play second fiddle for the opening 10 overs.

Bailey was latching on to full, wide or short of a length, with shots all around the wicket. His 39 in just eight overs laid the foundations for a sizable home side effort.

Woods (14) was once again playing an effortless innings and this continued throughout the home side's batting display. Quantrill (15) and youngster Burt (14) kept the run rate up but it was wicket keeper Keeler that really put Mundford in charge.

His 32 not out, his highest score in first team colours, pushed his side up and over 200 to a score of 213.

Mundford's opener bowlers knew that a tight opening spell would increase Swardeston's run rate over six but Bailey was quick to remove both Grady and Smeed as Swardeston's openers ran riot in the opening exchanges, amassing 100 from the first 20 overs.

Swardeston's opening batters put on 116 as The Stags stared defeat in the face.

Mundford had played superb cricket for the first half of their innings and now it was all falling apart. It was going to take something magical for it to turn around and spells from Allsop with 4-50, Leeder with 2-39 and captain Bailey with 1-47 did just this.

Mundford's fielding at times was the best it has been all season and, coupled with the catching that has been a real issue this year, The Stags' final 20 overs of their lofty visitors innings meant that Swardeston had to settle for just a 90 per cent losing draw - something which never looked likely with an hour of the game remaining.

Skipper Alex Bailey said: 'We showed real character today, the game was all but lost but fantastic spells of bowling from the two spinners and my vice-captain led the way and just about saw us home. This was a strong Swardeston side and to pick up a result against them shows what a great side we have here.

'Having lost four extremely influential players from last term to still find ourselves competing with the top sides this year makes me feel very proud of the efforts of everyone in the side.

'Special mention for two players; Matt Allsop with his variation in swing bowling, it really started the game turning in our favour and also his brother-in-law Daniel Keeler, whose batting over the past fortnight has been nothing short of a revelation.'