28 May 2007
Fakenham finally got it right to move off the bottom of the table with a 42-run victory at Cambridge Granta.
For the first time this season, Fakenham's batsmen managed to support their bowlers, giving them a reasonable total of 196 to work with.
A solid opening stand of 40 between Shaun Cooper (20) and Paul Dunger (39) set the visitors on their way and once again skipper Michael Smith provided the backbone of the innings with 57.
And while most of the lower order failed to contribute, number eight Nick Barry hit a crucial 22 to boost the total.
Spurred on by the batsmen's efforts, Fakenham opening bowlers Ian Slegg and Adam Woodhouse took a wicket each to leave Granta on two for two.
That brought freescoring South African Jacques Du Toit to the crease and he, along with Tom Harvey, quickly turned things around for the home side.
But with the score on 60 and Du Toit having inflicted relatively minor damage with 36, Slegg bowled him to give Fakenham a huge boost.
From there, they never looked back and Smith claimed three wickets to put his side on the verge of victory. A 10th wicket stand of 22 briefly frustrated Fakenham, but Slegg wrapped up proceedings with his fourth wicket as Granta were all out for 154.
In contrast, the winning feeling is something Swardeston have become accustomed to this year and they stay top after a comprehensive eight-wicket victory at home to Godmanchester.
Opening bowlers Michael Eccles and Mark Thomas set things up by blowing away the visitors' top order, reducing them to 38 for five.
Although Godmanchester rallied courtesy of Praneeth Jayasundera's 87, they were all out for 187, with Eccles bagging five wickets and Thomas four.
Swardeston lost Brian Murphy early in their reply, but Loyala Herathge and Richard Sims took the score on to 44 before Herathge was dismissed. That brought Jaden Hatwell in and he continued his outstanding form, hitting his first league century of the season to see Swardeston to victory in the 47th over. Sims was happy to play second fiddle in the onslaught and was unbeaten on 64.
Swardeston remain 25 points clear of Bury, who beat Clacton by eight wickets.
Carl Rogers also notched three figures for the first time in the league this season as Great Witchingham dominated their draw at home to Vauxhall Mallards.
Rogers made an unbeaten 123 in Witchingham's 263 for five, sharing a first wicket stand of 135 with James Spelman (70).
But Rogers' Norfolk opening partner Carl Amos could not match his county colleague's exploits when Mallards batted and he fell lbw to New Zealander Lance Shaw for a duck.
Luke Newton and Rob Frylinck also went cheaply and Mallards then slumped to 33 for five as Shaw and Stuart Evans did the damage.
Mallards' form batsman Peter Free rescued the situation with an unbeaten 70, while Richard Moores made 45 as they closed on 161 for eight, Shaw finishing with five wickets.
Horsford replaced Fakenham at the bottom after their draw at Norwich.
Felix Flower top scored with 53 and there were steady contributions all down the order as Norwich posted 227 for nine, with Chris Brown picking up four wickets.
Norwich were missing injured Sri Lankan paceman Surappulige Malinga, but Paul Wiseman made up for his absence with a couple of early wickets in the Horsford reply.
Jaik Mickleburgh hit back with 28 and Horsford's own Sri Lankan, Duminda Perera, continued to impress with an unbeaten 66 to guide his team to the safety of a draw as they closed on 143 for six.
