Cromer were knocked out of the Carter Cup quarter-finals by EAPL champions Swardeston on Sunday.

The visitors won the toss on a glorious morning and elected to bat. The innings got off to an ominous start when Peter Lambert hit the first two balls for six. He and Jordan Taylor were together for just 5.2 overs but had a partnership of 55, Anthony Robinson breaking the stand when he bowled Lambert for 30. The quick scoring rate continued when Stephen Gray joined Taylor, but Alfie Woodrow brought Taylor's innings to an end for 32. The third wicket fell in the 24th over when Woodrow struck again to dismiss Essex youngster Callum Taylor.

Gray reach his half century but from the very next ball he was bowled by Richard Charlwood with the Cromer man's first delivery. Lewis Denmark and Richard Sims were now the men at the crease and this would prove to be the most valuable partnership of the afternoon.

Denmark quickly moved past 50 with a boundary before being dismissed from the very next ball. Denmark's 53 came from 53 balls and his partnership with Sims was worth 88.

The visitors were now beyond 250 and still had 13 overs remaining and Sims becsme the third Swardeston batsmen to make a half-century.

Sims was then the main contributor to a 50 run stand with Reynolds before Reynolds went for 11. Sims was then out for a superb 75 from 84 deliveries.

As the innings entered the final overs Swardeston were now past 300. They finished on an impressive 341 for 9 from their 60 overs with all their batsmen reaching double figures. Despite a tough 60 overs the Cromer players kept their energy for the whole innings and kept going to the end. Michael Warnes finished with 3 for 74 whilst Alfie Woodrow and Richard Charlwood both grabbed two wickets each.

Cromer needed a good start but the opposite happened and Oxley struck twice in his first over to remove Matthew Warnes and Richard Charlwood. David Turner then fell to Eccles in the third over before the Norfolk bowler struck again soon after to get Ollie Kimber. After seven overs the home side were 15 for 4. Eccles continued to cause problems and grabbed two more wickets, Michael Warnes and Anthony Robinson.

All the batters had so far been dismissed for single figures with the only resistance coming from Damien Sweet. The Australian saw another man go at the other end and his side wwere 49 for 7 from 15 overs.

The result was now more than beyond doubt but Cromer were not just going to roll over. After an impressive display with the ball Alfie Woodrow joined Sweet and showed that he could also do the job with the bat. George Walker ended their partnership when he got Sweet. The Australian had played nicely for his 40. Cromer took the game beyond tea and Woodrow, now with Nick Bond, ensured the crowd witnessed an entertaining finish.

The ninth wicket stand would be worth 67. Bond made 33 from 32 balls, including three fours and three sixes before being bowled by Walker. The match finished when Oxley ended Woodrow's excellent innings of 38. Cromer were all out for 157 and although the margin of defeat was 184 the hosts could hold their heads high. From ball one they approached the game with a positive attitude and played their part in a fantastic game in front of the large crowd.

On the back of four successive defeats Cromer welcomed Ashmanhaugh & Barton Wanderers to the Norton Warnes on Saturday and took to the field in search of a much-needed win. The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first.

The home side made a great start when Anthony Robinson got Everett for a duck in the first over. Robinson then struck again in his second over before James Craske grabbed two wickets in the fourth over of the day as Wanderers slipped to 16 for 4 off four overs.

Luke Caswell was now joined by Paul Hunter who built a useful partnership, although the Cromer bowlers made them work hard for the runs. Skipper Caswell made his half-century before the partnership was brought to an end when a miscommunication saw Hunter run out by Matthew Warnes, having made 44.

Caswell was then involved in another useful partnership, this time with Whiting. This combination added 57 before Whiting fell to Michael Warnes for 39. After what was a shocking start the away side had battled their way beyond 170. Caswell's innings of 75 finally came to an end in the 49th over when he was run out by Alan Stickells. A couple more quick wickets fell in the final overs and Wanderers posted a total of 189 for 9.

Anthony Robinson, James Craske and Michaell Warnes all picked up two wickets in an innings containing three run outs.

David Turner and Matthew Warnes got the reply off to a steady start but Turner fell for seven in the eighth over. Warnes looked confident and was the dominant scorer but saw two more partners come and go for single figures.

Despite wickets falling the scoreboard continued to tick along nicely and the run rate never looked like being an issue. Australian Damien Sweet spent a bit longer in the middle with Warnes but fell to Layer having made 21.

Warnes' superb, controlled innings saw him reach his 50 and his side were 107 for 4 at the halfway stage. Stickells then joined Warnes at the crease and this partnership took the home side to the brink of victory. Dealing in boundaries for most of his innings Stickells made 37 in a stand of 70 and when he was dismissed in the 40th over Cromer needed just 13 more runs with five wickets and 10 overs to spare.

Victory was sealed on the final ball of the 42nd over, and in style too ,with Warnes smashing a six. The Cromer opener finished unbeaten on 77. Ollie Kimber was the other not out batsmen with seven.

This was an excellent allround performance from Cromer who showed no signs of lacking in confidence despite a run of poor results. This victory moved them off the bottom of the league ahead of Saturday's trip to Swardeston A.