Cromer were knocked off their perch at the top of the Lovewell Blake Norfolk Alliance Premier Division in stunning fashion by Vauxhall Mallards. The home side were thrashed by nine wickets and drop down to third position in the league, behind Mallards after being bowled out for just 54 at the Norton Warnes ground.

Cromer were knocked off their perch at the top of the Lovewell Blake Norfolk Alliance Premier Division in stunning fashion by Vauxhall Mallards.

The home side were thrashed by nine wickets and drop down to third position in the league, behind Mallards after being bowled out for just 54 at the Norton Warnes ground.

Cromer professional Rayno Arendse was the only man to reach double figures, with 17, as Mallards captain Steve Goldsmith and overseas Chamara de Zoysa each claimed five wickets on a drying pitch.

Home skipper Tom Davies felt confident that after winning the toss, his side could bat first and get a good score on the board.

But unfortunately for skipper Davies, he and his batsmen came up against two bowlers in Goldsmith and De Zoysa, who bowled superbly to quickly skittle through the Cromer line-up.

Cromer were bowled out for a total of 54 runs in just 22.2 overs as both Goldsmith and De Zoysa finished with five wickets for 23 runs.

Mallards' opening bowlers used the conditions perfectly to leave themselves needing 55 runs from a maximum of 77 overs.

They then made easy work of reaching their target.

Although Straw was dismissed in the second over, run out by Liam Davies, to ignite any small hope of a Cromer comeback, the visitors secured victory in the 15th over with a boundary from Finney.

Finney finished 24 not out and Seager was the other not out batsman (10).

A bad day at the office all round for Cromer who couldn't get going with the bat and a total of 54 was going to be almost impossible to defend.

They will be looking to get back to winning ways in the league on Saturday when they travel to Lowestoft.

w Saham Toney were the visitors for the first XI's second home game of the weekend in the first round of the Biss Rose Bowl.

Saham Toney won the toss and put Cromer into bat.

Again Cromer got off to a shaky start and despite a quick 22 from Arendse, Cromer were four down after seven overs for 35 runs.

Colin Brown was now in the middle and he was to stay at the crease for 43 overs.

In the 17th over Brown was joined by David Turner with Cromer 66-6. Together they would put on a very valuable partnership of 46 from 21.3 overs, before Turner was given out leg before on 16.

Brown and Turner steered Cromer into a much more comfortable position and allowed No 9, Luke Barrett to come in and get an impressive 23 from 29 balls as Cromer posted a total of 176 all out.

Saham Toney started positively in reply with G Maxwell making a quick 30 before being caught by Craske off the bowling of Arendse.

After 19 overs Saham Toney were 62-5 and Cromer were in control, but Mower set about getting some quick runs to try and get the visitors back into a position where they could possibly win the match.

But when Dean Elliott bowled Mower out for 27, it was just three more overs before Saham Toney were all out, finishing 65 runs short on 111. Arendse wrapped up the tail and finished with figures of 4-9, and Michael Warnes, Dean Elliott and James Craske all took two wickets.

Skipper Davies said after the game: “After a shaky start it was good to see that we had some lads who were prepared to dig their heels in.”