Aldborough A obtained the points required to ensure promotion to Division Four when they beat Hingham by 14 runs.Going in to the final weekend of the season, Aldborough A lay second in Division Five with all to play for in the promotion chase, as less than a point separated them from Halvergate and Hingham in third and fourth respectively.

Aldborough A obtained the points required to ensure promotion to Division Four when they beat Hingham by 14 runs.

Going in to the final weekend of the season, Aldborough A lay second in Division Five with all to play for in the promotion chase, as less than a point separated them from Halvergate and Hingham in third and fourth respectively.

Aldborough's opponents on this final weekend were, in fact, Hingham, who knew that a good win and any slip-up from Halvergate could push them from fourth into the other promotion spot.

Skipper Mike Cramp won the all-important toss and elected to bat first on what looked a reasonable pitch and fast outfield. In the field, however, Hingham bowled excellently, with openers Weston (12-6-27-0) and Scent (10-4-19-4) being miserly with the new ball and restricting Aldborough's opening pair well.

Skinner was the first to go, looking to drive a rare half-volley through the covers and being caught behind to put Aldborough on the back foot early on at five for one.

Armiger (9) joined Mack and provided some good resistance before mistiming a drive and being caught and bowled by first-change bowler Dix, who bowled excellently throughout to finish with figures of 11.4-2-39-6.

Cramp fell soon after to the same bowler, looking to leave a ball that subsequently flew up off a length and caught his glove on the way through to the keeper.

Opener Mack, who had ground his way to 24 was the next to go, he too being caught and bowled on a wicket that had become extremely difficult.

Nicholson, in good form this season with bat and gloves, could not stop the rot either as he perished for one, leaving Aldborough at 43 for five in the 26th over.

With Aldborough's promotion hopes hanging in the balance, a colossal effort was needed from the remaining middle and lower order to salvage a defendable total.

Swinbourne was the first to step up and be counted, hitting an impressive and timely 14, including a first league six over square leg. Sizeland (6) looked good before looking to drive and being bowled, leaving Aldborough at 72 for seven.

The emerging Tom Seaman then came to the wicket and played solidly for 23, showing he has the makings of a fine all-rounder for Aldborough.

With good support from Dingle (6) and then a 10th wicket partnership of 38, with the impressive Tuthill (20) hitting two maximums in two balls off the bowling of Dix, Aldborough reached 128 all out in the 44th over. Knight finished one not out.

Sensing that this would not be an easy total to reach, Aldborough came out fired up in the field and struck early, with opener Key edging through to keeper Nicholson off the bowling of Dingle (9-4-22-1) to leave the score at one for one.

At the other end, the left-handed Guy batted aggressively and sought to punish anything off his hips. He made an impressive 36 before a good catch from Armiger at backward square leg off the bowling of Seaman (7-0-39-2) led to his downfall. Seaman struck again to remove the stumps of Wright and leave Hingham at 58 for three.

Change bowlers Mack and Tuthill (6-3-9-2) then put the pressure firmly on the Hingham middle order as they bowled the next 12 overs of the match between them for 34 runs, with four wickets falling, including a good run-out from Sizeland, as the pressure started to get to Hingham.

Tuthill, in fantastic form throughout August taking 14 wickets at an average of 7.36, picked up the wicket of Guy junior within his spell, who too had looked dangerous on his way to 22.

At 88 for seven, the game was still very much in the balance. Aldborough's seamers were bowling well and Hingham were finding it extremely difficult to get bat on ball, particularly off the returning Dingle, whose second spell of five overs included four maidens and conceded only four runs.

Nevertheless, the partnership of Dix and Cooper had to be broken, so skipper Cramp turned to his spin bowler Knight to work his magic.

Intent on driving the club forward to promotion, club chairman Knight (2-0-2-1) struck instantly with his second ball, as Dix, who looked solid on his way to 21, top-edged a sweep shot that was caught well by Mack running forward at fine leg. The score was now 107 for eight. Hingham needed 22 to win and Aldborough needed two wickets, with the tail firmly exposed.

Mack then came steaming in from the other end to take the final two wickets and win Aldborough the game, first removing the stumps of Weston and then the middle stump of Scent in his subsequent over, to finish with figures of 9.5-3-28-3. Hingham were all out for 114, giving Aldborough a winning margin of 14 runs.

Knight's Sporting Ltd man of the match: Charlie Mack (24 and 3-28).