Swaffham continued their excellent start to the season with a fifth consecutive victory, beating visiting Acle A by seven wickets in their Norfolk Alliance Division Three clash.

Swaffham continued their excellent start to the season with a fifth consecutive victory, beating visiting Acle A by seven wickets in their Norfolk Alliance Division Three clash.

Fielding first, leaders Swaffham didn't get off to the best of starts, despite Jasper Payne picking up Acle keeper Tovell caught and bowled. Acle raced to 48-1 off eight overs before a bizarre spell of cricket.

Matthew Brockman-Smith and Maurice Dye were introduced into the attack and their bowling, along with a run-out from Coggles, saw four wickets fall for four runs in four overs.

A few overs later Michael Dye took a smart slip catch to give Brockman-Smith his second wicket. The bowling pair applied pressure as Acle tried to grind out a total. After the Acle seventh wicket had put on a patient 53 runs Jasper Payne was re-introduced into the attack and blasted through the tail before Coggles took the final wicket.

Acle were eventually bowled out for 131 leaving Swaffham 50 overs to surpass their total.

Swaffham's chase was a carbon copy of previous weeks. The early wicket of Puckey lbw was followed by Upton, who mistimed a full toss, to leave Jasper Payne and Mark Eagle at the crease with the score delicately poised on 19-2. However, for the fifth week in a row, Payne obliterated the bowling while captain Eagle, nursing a hand injured whilst fielding, played a supporting role. The pair put on 108.

Payne was caught in the deep for 81 off 60 balls with five runs needed. It was left to Michael Dye and Eagle to see Swaffham home and open up a 32-point lead.

Meanwhile, a youthful Swaffham A gave a spirited performance against Snettisham A in the West Norfolk 20-over competition. Swaffham, with seven players under 19, kept the hosts to 125 but fell 30 runs short.