There wasn't any rain about on Saturday – but that didn't prevent Cromer's match in the Premier Division of the Norfolk Alliance from being abandoned.

The early finish came when the umpires deemed that the light was too poor to allow Cromer to safely complete their innings.

It was frustrating for Downham who had made an impressive 291-7 before reducing their visitors to 206-7 in the 43rd over when an early evening halt was called. Alex Stewart (97) and Jack Gould (73 not out) were the mainstays of the home innings.

Richard Charlwood was expensive but did manage to weigh in with three wickets while overseas player Devon Singh-Parhar took 2-28 from his seven overs.

Needing to score at almost six an over Cromer lost Tom Davies, Matthew Warnes and Robert Purton cheaply before Charlwood and David Turner repaired some of the damage. Charlwood went for 25 but Turner went on to make 64 before being bowled by Addam Todd.

With another couple of wickets following quickly, including Singh-Parhar for a duck, the visitors were in some trouble but Jamie Carter (35 not out) and Michael Warnes (11 not out) took the fight back to Downham. The visitors were still up against it when the umpires called time however, with the run-rate required for victory having risen to more than 10 an over.

Cromer continue their Alliance campaign at home to Fakenham on Saturday (1pm).

Cromer A were involved in a tight match against Division Five new-boys Snettisham at the Norton Warnes Ground, eventually going down by four wickets.

The hosts made 192-9 in their 45 overs, with Nat Laws scoring 61 and Peter Gascoyne 45. It was a competitive total but not quite enough as the west Norfolk side got home with five overs to spare.

Cromer A are away to Great Melton A on Saturday.

In the top flight of the Norfolk League Happisburgh chalked up their second win of the season. They bowled out Kirkley and Belton for 123 before getting home by five wickets.

Last year's level two champions faced off against each other and East beat West as Overstrand claimed the spoils over Castle Rising by three wickets when chasing 194-9, Neil Yarham hit 51 and David Yarham 49 along with 4-24 with the ball.