Swaffham picked up their third winning draw of the season for 18 points in Alliance Division Three, but had to battle hard against spirited visitors Kirkley & Lowestoft.

Swaffham decided to bat on what looked like another excellent wicket and it proved to be so with nearly 600 runs being scored.

They raced out of the blocks with Oxborough and Hardy putting on 91 for the first wicket.

Swaffham continued to cash in against some average bowling with only Kirkley's Guy bowling under four runs an over. All the home side's batsmen got starts, with Hardy (66) and Titmarsh (68 not out) both recording half-centuries, Titmarsh scored his runs of only 42 balls. They were supported by Crisp, Reeve and Eagle as Swaffham piled on 305 for the second week in succession.

The imposing total did little to intimidate Kirkley who attacked from the very first ball of their innings.

Guy smashed the shine off the new ball and dominated partnerships with Lawes (13) and Wilgoss (35) and had Kirkley in the driving seat at drinks as they reached 160-1.

However, Eagle took a smart catch off Yates to claim the wicket of Guy for a destructive 104.

Swaffham slowly began to work their way through the rest of the Kirkley's innings but unfortunately their explosive start meant Swaffham were always running out of time to claim the wickets.

Nonetheless, the tireless Michael Crisp (3-56) had Kirkley nine down and almost claimed the last wicket at the death as Kirkley hung on finishing only five runs away from 90 per cent.

Swaffham picked up an extra two points from the previous week.

Despite being so close to picking up maximum points, they must start bowling sides out to maintain a challenge for promotion.

Swaffham: W Hardy c Guy b Tuttle 66, C Boxborough lbw Howe's 29, M Crisp run out 33, A Reeve c Cliburn b Tuttle 22, M Eagle c Lovelock b Cruickshank's 35, C Ditmars not out 68, C Yates not out 9; extras 43. Total (5 wkts, 46 over's) 305. Bowling: S Howe's 12-0-74-1, M Cruickshank's 7-0-64-1, S Cliburn 10-0-82-0, C Guy 12-3-42-0, G Tuttle 5-0-34-2.

Kirkley & Lowestoft Railway: D Laws c Yates b Crisp 13, C Guy c Eagle b Yates 105, B Willows c Hardy b Smith 35, G Tuttle b Boxborough 0, S Cliburn c Hardy b Smith 2, D Haze lbw Eagle 21, Jonathon Block lbw Crisp 44, J Lovelock run out 0, S Howe's not out 11, D Howe's c Yates b Crisp 0, M Cruickshank's not out 2; extras 37. Total (9 wkts) 270. Bowling: M Anakin 5-0-22-0, M Smith 10-1-61-2, M Crisp 10-0-56-3, M Eagle 9-0-48-1, C Boxborough 7-1-43-1, C Yates 5-1-30-1.

Swaffham A (19 pts) beat Hockwold (6 pts) by eight wickets in the West Norfolk League Division Three.

Hockwold set a challenging 235 despite Chris Upton's 4-32.

However, Swaffham made short work of the target with a 206 run opening partnership between Andy Dale and Upton virtually assuring Swaffham's victory. Upton departed for 89, but Dale remained to see his side home with an unbeaten 111.

Hockwold: S Barrett b Upton 23, R Bland b Annakin 4, J Ruddick c Dye b Balls 57, A Askew c Payne b Impey 40, M Barrett c-b Upton 5, S Groom not out 41, L Bland b Upton 11, M Hammond b Upton 0, G Butcher c Upton b Dye 28, P Reid caught b Dye 0, D Spencer not out 0; extras 22. Total (9 wkts) 235. Bowling: M Dye 10-2-53-2, D Annakin 12-1-58-1, R Impey 5-2-18-1, A Dale 5-0-37-0, C Upton 8-3-32-4, P Balls 4-1-16-1.

Swaffham A: C Upton c Bland b Spencer 89, A Dale not out 111, A Payne b Bland 13, D Annakin not out 4; extras 20. Total (2 wkts) 237. Bowling: M Hammond 2-0-19-0, S Groom 12-1-61-0, R Bland 8.3-1-41-1, A Askew 5-1-30-0, G Butcher 5-1-29-0, D Spencer 6-0-41-1.