It was not a good weekend for Bradfield as they lost in the Norfolk Alliance against Dereham and in the NACO Cup against Cromer.

After starting the season with four straight league wins, the team had a real taste of what life can be like at this higher level.

It all started quite well at Dereham. After winning the toss and electing to field, Bradfield's bowlers had taken six wickets for 122 runs by the 28th over, Jeremy Wright, Tom Wylie, Alex Johnson all picking up wickets.

But Dereham's last three wickets put on a further 106, aided by 50 not out from Joe Marczewki and 27 from Jake Anema. Dereham's innings closed on 228 for 9 which included 44 extras.

Wylie took 4 for 41 and Wright 3 for 29.

When it came to bat, Bradfield's batsmen found Dereham's slow bowling attack of Anema and David Lake hard to get away and as a result wickets fell regularly.

Only Olly Kimble (18), Alex Johnson (22), Jeremy Wright (14), Ethan Benny (11) and Alex Kimber, last man out for 30, managed to get into double figures. Dereham's bowlers only gave away four wides as Bradfield were all out for 121.

In retrospect, Bradfield's bowlers did well to restrict Premier Division Cromer to 287 for 7 the following day on Bradfield's excellent batting wicket on which sides have scored over 300.

Nat Laws (45) and Matthew Warnes led the way by putting on 83 for the first wicket.

Warnes went on to score 102 before he was caught by Michael Seago off the bowling of Jeremy Wright. Richard Purton (18), Richard Charlwood (44) and 41 extras were the significant scores in Cromer's 284 for 7 after 50 overs.

The experience and quicker pace of Michael Warnes supported by James Craske soon had Bradfield in trouble. Edward Botwright (34) and Jeremy Wright (19) staged a short recovery before Chris Carey accounted for both of them. Alex Kimber scored 24 before he was bowled by Kristan Regis for 24. Matthew Warnes claimed his third wicket when Peter Murphy was well caught by Richard Charlwood for 13. Batting at No 11 Cameron Down, on his first appearance for Bradfield after four years, showed he could bat as well as bowl as Bradfield were all out for 165.

Bradfield are at home to Swardeston A on Saturday (1pm).