Swaffham travel to Ashmanhaugh on Saturday on the back of a much-needed winning draw against local rivals Mundford in Alliance Division Three. After being put into bat the home side began badly with Williams-Ward being bowled by Bailey's first ball in the second over of the match.

Swaffham travel to Ashmanhaugh on Saturday on the back of a much-needed winning draw against local rivals Mundford in Alliance Division Three.

After being put into bat the home side began badly with Williams-Ward being bowled by Bailey's first ball in the second over of the match.

This brought Robert Impey to the crease to join makeshift opener Colin Yates.

The pair batted sensibly seeing off the new ball before Yates was caught on the boundary off Brassett for a well-built 27.

Swaffham at this stage were looking nervous at 36-2 off 12 overs but need not have worried as star batsman Anthony Reeve joined Impey and, as he has done repeatedly this season, he soon began to dominate the bowlers.

The pair put on a superb partnership of 176 in just 23 overs. Reeve, playing all the shots from his locker reached his first century of the season in only 73 balls.

Impey played a more sedate innings but was no less impressive, having been promoted from the second team for creditable recent performances, he scored his maiden first-team 50 from 83 balls.

Nonetheless when a score in the region of 300 was looking possible both were dismissed by Allsop as the Swaffham innings slowed.

But Titmarsh, Jasper Payne, Smith and Dale still pushed Swaffham to 261 as Allsop finished with 4-61.

Even though Swaffham had a good platform to reach 300 after recent performances and how the innings started the team were full of confidence going into the second innings with plenty of runs on the board.

Swaffham's opening bowlers Annakin and Smith began well and although the first wicket did not fall until the ninth over Mundford had only scored 18 and had already began batting for the draw.

Annakin bowled his 12 overs straight through, and although not at his best he still picked up three wickets.

For the rest of the innings Swaffham were just concerned with taking wickets but after being 85-5 off 28 overs Mundford's McIssac and McNeilly put on 54 in 13 overs to almost guarantee the draw.

Smith finally picked up a wicket in his last over to break the partnership but Swaffham still need four wickets in the last four overs to pick up maximum points.

Oxborough snared his third wicket having Mundford youngster McIssac stumped for a very well made 39 to give Swaffham a chance.

Impey bowled the penultimate over and got two wickets with perfect in-swinging yorkers leaving Titmarsh the task of getting the final wicket in the last over of the match.

Unfortunately for Swaffham Leeder and Allsop survived to ensure Mundford gained a losing draw finishing on 169-9 and deprived Swaffham an seven extra points.

Overall Swaffham can take a lot from the game and can hopefully carry this form into the last four games of the season.

Reeve's 104 was sadly his last innings this season as he starts playing football next week, but his 440 runs at 55 have been invaluable.

Swaffham: C Williams-Ward b A Bailey 0, C Yates c J McNeilly b P Brassett 27, R Impey c R Smeed b M Allsop 57, A Reeve b M Allsop 104, C Titmarsh c A Bailey b M Allsop 10, J Payne not out 9, M Smith b Matthew Allsop 14, A Dale not out 20; extras 20. Total (6 wkts, 46 overs) 261. Bowling: R Smeed 12-2-42-0, A Bailey 12-1-50-1, P Brassett 5-0-25-1, M Allsop 10-0-61-4, M Leeder 6-0-58-0, R Yates 1-0-17-0.

Mundford: A Bailey c C Williams-Ward, b M Annakin 9, R Smeed b C Oxborough 34, R Yates c A Dale b M Annakin 10, D White c R Impey b M Annakin 0, P Brassett b C Oxborough 14, C McIsaac b C Oxborough 39, J McNeilly c C Yates b M Smith 14, M Allsop not out 15, Dl Keeler c C Oxborough b R Impey 7, J Amphlett c J Payne b R Impey 2, M Leeder not out 0; extras 25. Total (9 wkts, 46 overs) 169. Bowling: M Annakin

12-1-50-3, M Smith 12-5-21-1, C Oxborough 12-1-44-3, C Yates 7-1-21-0, C Titmarsh 2-0-19-0, R Impey 1-0-7-2.