Skipper Tom Davies won the toss and put the visitors into bat. The Cromer opening bowlers couldn’t make a breakthrough in the early overs and Swardeston were 31 for 0 from first ten overs.
The home sides’ openers Murphy and Walker upped the run rate, and when their partnership was ended by Elliott getting Murphy for 40, they had put on 78 in 21 overs. Martin joined Walker and they had a partnership of 53, with Walker the next man to go with 53.
Martin batted with confidence and he would also pass his fifty to top score with 55, before returning to the pavilion due to a fantastic catch from Colin Brown a point, off the bowling of Craske. With 10 overs remaining in their innings Swardeston were 160 for 3.
The home side added a further 88 runs in these overs, losing just one more wicket. Former Cromer captain Goodrum finished not out on 45 and Bilham was 21 not out. At the end of their innings Swardeston were 248 for 4.
Cromer required a massive 249 for victory. They lost a man early with Arendse (8) out leg before to Dolding. Tom Davies and David Turner then showed resistance putting on 45 together before Davies was unfortunately given out leg before on 36.
Turner now with Richard Charlwood put on a stand of 34. Turner, on his Saturday first XI debut, would be dismissed for 20 off the bowling of Murphy. Charlwood made an excellent 39 from 48 balls but after his wicket in the 36th over Cromer were 124 for 5.
It was now highly unlikely that Cromer would reach their target and it was now a case of batting out the remaining overs to try and get as many batting points as possible. Barrett and Craske saw off the final 4 overs as Cromer finished 180 for 9. Dolding, Murphy and Cooper all took three wickets for the home side.
Cromer came away from Swardeston with 6 points in this losing draw.
This Saturday sees the visit of reigning champions Downham to the Norton Warnes ground.