Gascoyne hit a cool unbeaten 98* as Cromer set Melton a challenging 248-5 in their 46 overs, and the visitors put up a good fight to eventually finish 208-6 to give Cromer 17 points in the battle for promotion.

Gascoyne and Nick Bond opened the innings for Cromer, and Bond got the home side away to a flying start with a flurry of powerfully-timed boundaries.  He’d reached 47 before holing out to Whiddett, but Cromer were off to an impressive start. 

However the Melton attack clawed their way back into the game , allied to some fine fielding.  The Cormer innings lost a little impetus as Cromer looked to accelerate, Graveling falling for 14, Gavin Neale caught-and-bowled for 7, the in-form Craske for a golden duck and Dave Green snaffled for a single. 

Gascoyne was rising above the procession at the other end, and Cromer demonstrated how deep they bat as Kevin Neale came in to join the fray.  He got stuck in to the Melton bowling, hitting a rapid 54* to see his side to an impressive total, Gascoyne ending up not out, his job done, with a magnificent 98.

The Melton innings started with a bang as Cook went after the Cromer attack.  He slogged Winterbone for 32 off his first two overs, but Gascoyne quickly dispersed his field and Nathan Taylor snagged the biligerent opener thanks to a stunning, steepling catch from Kevin Neale deep in cow corner.

Winterbone roared back into the game, nipping out Clarke, Stearman and Alborough, and when Gascoyne had the obstinate Whiddett superbly taken by the diving Dickens Cromer sensed the win.  But despite a massive appeal for a clear-cut nick from the bat of Devlin, Melton refused to succumb and Cromer were left to settle for the winning draw.

Unfortunately even if the Crabs win at league leaders Halvergate on Saturday their destiny is no longer in their own hands.  Cromer’s two rivals in the hunt for Division Four, Halvergate and Bradenham, both won, leaving Cromer relying on other teams to help them out as the season approaches its climax.