Swaffham run is halted

Swaffham's current good form came to an abrupt end on Saturday with a three-wicket defeat at the hands of Great Witchingham - but not without putting up a fight.

After winning the toss Swaffham decided against the recent tactic of bowling first and batted in the scorching 30 degree heat.

This tactic had clearly backfired after the first couple of overs.

Witchingham's Fuller ripped through Swaffham's top order, several of whom were guilty of playing loose shots, as he bowled a tight line outside off-stump.

Only Reeve offered any resistance and once he was out Swaffham were soon 51-6.

Nevertheless this brought youngsters Jasper Payne (in his first innings for the first team) and Carl Oxborough together and they batted superbly in trying circumstances, putting on the highest partnership of the match.

While together they threatened Swaffham reaching somewhere between 120 to 150 but after both fell in quick succession Black soon cleaned up the Swaffham tail as the visitors were all out for a disappointing 90.

A deflated Swaffham went out after tea aiming to repeat recent good bowling performances.

Mike Annakin soon picked up an early wicket, that of Dacre, well caught by Titmarsh in the gully. However, Witchingham raced along at five an over before Annakin's opening partner Matthew Smith joined in on the wicket front.

After going for 29 off his initial five overs Smith tightened his line and bowled with more hostility and picked up four wickets in his second five overs for only five runs as Witchingham began to falter.

With Oxborough also picking up a wicket Witchingham were looking nervous on 77-7. However the home side prevailed as Black saw his side home while Swaffham rued being 30 runs short.

There are some positives for Swaffham to take into Saturday's clash with Dersingham. A spirited performance in the field with the ball, and especially the maturity shown between Jasper and Carl, suggests the investment into the club's youth cricket is beginning to pay dividends.

Swaffham: C Williams-Ward c Dacre b Fuller 0, W Hardy c Rogers b Fuller 8, M Eagle c Baker b Fuller 0, A Reeve c Baker b Fuller 23, C Yates b Wright 1, C Titmarsh b Black 2, J Payne lbw Black 18, C Oxborough b Wright 14, M Smith c Ringer b Black 0, A Dale not out 6, M Annakin lbw Black 0; extras 18. Total 90. Bowling: C Fuller 8-0-14-4, G Reynolds 6-1-24-0, C Black 8.3-6-5-4, J Wright 7-0-35-2.

Great Witchingham: S Dacre c Titmarsh b Annakin 0, R Gurney c Reeve b Smith 21, J Page c Dale b Smith 16, M Atkinson c Annakin b Smith 11, C Baker c Reeve b Oxborough 4, B Ringer c Titmarsh b Smith 9, C Black not out 13, D Rogers c Yates b Smith 0, C Fuller not out 0; extras 17. Total (7 wkts) 91. Bowling: M Annakin 5-1-16-1, M Smith 10.3-4-39-5, C Oxborough 6-1-31-1.

Meanwhile, Swaffham (21 pts) beat Gressenhall (9 pts) in Mid Norfolk Sunday League Birbeck Division Four.

Swaffham picked up their second Sunday win of the season which included a strong contribution from some of the club's youth players.

Batting first, Swaffham raced along at six an over but regularly lost wickets on a tricky pitch which resulted in Swaffham being bowled out in only 29 overs.

Andy Dale (34 off 26 balls) and Matt Smith (30 off 19 balls) looked like getting Swaffham well over 200 but their dismissals allowed younger players to showcase their talent. Josh Joachim, Tom Puckey, Kieran Kingston-Miles and Ryan Bradbury all got into double figures and some late smiting by Puckey senior (including a thumping six) allowed Swaffham to reach a more than defendable total of 179.

In reply, Swaffham got off to a good start when Joachim forced Fuller to retire before Tom Puckey had Guymer caught by Dale, followed quickly by Joachim having King caught behind.

This brought Fuller back to the crease and Swaffham's younger bowlers struggled as he and Thompson began to threaten the total. Smith and Dale were introduced and picked up quick wickets, captain Dale's figures were particularly impressive as his four cheap wickets included a hat-trick.

Kingston-Miles picked up the final wicket to cap off a fine all-round performance.

A special mention goes to debutant Callum Staines who fielded well on a difficult outfield in his first adult game.

Swaffham: R Crisp b Guymer 6, J Joachim b R Thompson 25, C Staines c b R Thompson 0, H Puckey, c b King 0, A Dale b Guymer 34, M Smith c b E Thompson 30, T Puckey c b Guymer 10, K Kingston-Miles run out 10, R Bradbury not out 12, A Puckey lbw Haydn 20; extras 32. Total (9 wkts) 179. Bowling: J Agnew 7-2-25-0, E Guymer 10-2-42-3, R Thompson 5-0-27-2, R King 4-0-29-1, E Thompson 2-0-24-1, T Hayden 2-0-21-1.

Gressenhall: M Fuller b Smith 27, E Guymer c Dale b T Puckey 9, R Thompson b Smith 46, R King c Crisp b Joachim 2, N Saunders b Dale 1, J Agnew lbw b Dale 0, E Thompson c Crisp b Dale 0, W Cacitz c Smith b Dale 0, T Haydn b Kingston-Miles 8, R Saunders not out 13; extras 7. Total (9 wkts) 113. Bowling: J Joachim 5-0-23-1, T Puckey 4-0-13-1, R Bradbury 5-0-30-0, K Kingston-Miles 3.2-0-22-1, M Smith 4-1-7-2, A Dale 3-1-3-4, H Puckey 3-0-16-0.