The long trip to North Runcton was the fixture this past weekend for Cromer CC.

Captain Tom Davies won the toss and decided to bat first. Ollie Kimber and David Turner opened for Cromer in the glorious sunshine. Turner’s wicket fell early for a duck, leg before to K. Bunting.

The runs weren’t flowing very quickly for Cromer and wickets continued to fall with both Charlwood and Warnes going cheaply. Bunting then got Kimber for 27 and the visitors were 53 for 4 in the 20^th over.

Elliott had a short stay at the crease before there was some resistance from Tom Davies and Luke Barrett. The Cromer skipper was making his way towards the fifty mark but was caught off the bowling of M. Bunting short of his half century, for 43. This brought an end to the biggest partnership of 30 between Tom and Liam Davies.

Gascoyne and Craske went for single figure scores and Cromer were 137 for 9 with five overs remaining. Liam Davies and John Battrick batted through the final overs and Cromer posted a total of 154. Liam Davies was not out on 20 whilst Battrick was 7 not out.

K. Bunting, Berkenshaw, M. Bunting and Hemeter all took two wickets a piece for the hosts.

It was a disappointing total for Cromer who would have hoped to score at least 200 after deciding to bat first. They now needed to do the job in the field to get a positive outcome from this game.

Cromer got the first wicket in the 14^th over and two more wickets fell quickly after and Runcton were 29 for 3. The game was fairly even at this stage but South African Berkenshaw and Captain Jefferson increased the scoring rate and after Jefferson (26) was dismissed the hosts had moved onto 78.

Berkenshaw was the wicket Cromer needed to take but they failed to do so. Although his team mates were falling at the other end he was able to guide his side to victory. He finished not out on 59 as North Runcton reached their target with three wickets in hand.

All bowlers used by Cromer took one wicket and Dean Elliott finished with best figures of 2 for 29.

This defeat saw Cromer slip to the bottom of the table and things don’t get any easier for the North Norfolk side as they entertain second placed Vauxhall Mallards this Saturday.