Norfolk Alliance Division FourAldborough 259-6 drew with Hardingham 260-4 on June 5.OLD rivals met at Holt Sports Centre with Hardingham the clear favourites, Aldborough bottom of the table with three defeats from three matches.

RoH: Troy Allan 142; Mack (A team0 5-22

Norfolk Alliance Division Four

Aldborough 259-6 drew with Hardingham 260-4 on June 5.

OLD rivals met at Holt Sports Centre with Hardingham the clear favourites, Aldborough bottom of the table with three defeats from three matches.

Aldborough inserted Hardingham whose Oli Howes and Robbie Fowle batted well, but the run rate never really got above four an over, and when Taylor and Barnard replaced openers Perry-Warnes and Allan the runs dried up further, Taylor bowling particularly well.

He was rewarded when Fowle cut straight to Allan at gulley for 42 in the 20th over. Howes followed Fowle back to the pavilion for a good 59, outsmarteded by Barnard. Taylor (10-1-43-1) and Barnard (12-1-51-1) Kept the Greens in the game. When Perry-Warnes returned and was joined by J Cannon, the score began to rocket with 70 runs scored in seven overs for an imposing 260-4.

In reply, Perry-Warnes and Cooper faced a hostile start but got to 29 without loss after 10. Cooper was caught behind in the 12th over and Fell (22) joined Perry-Warnes (26) before the latter was cleaned up by Burts. Skipper Troy Allan batted for 30 overs hitting 10 sixes on his way to a mammoth 142, punishing a strong bowling attack and sending even opening bowler Jason Goodrum high over the boundary ropes on a number of occasions.

He was partnered by Plumb (21) for a time but the South African needed only to be given the strike as he reigned supreme, smashing the ball to all parts of the ground. Aldborough needed 66 off the last six overs to win. With some magnificent hitting and running, Aldborough kept up with the rate, needing just eight off the last two balls to clinch it.

Dancing up the track Allan swung and missed the first and the game was up, although he did dispatch the final ball for a massive six meaning Boro fell two short of a famous victory.

Man of the match: Troy Allan.

Norfolk League Division Four

Aldborough A (190-7) beat Hales A (109-10) by 81 runs.

Aldborough elected to bat. Mack and Skinner got the score racing away in the first few overs before Mack tried one big shot too many and was clean bowled. Cramp knocked the ball around the ground with great composure. He and Skinner batted well together until Cramp was out for 40 caught off a leading edge.

Skinner was out for a stubbornly taken 27, holding one end up excellently for Cramp, Buxton and Sayer who all swung the bat with venom to add to the Aldborough total. Sayer (33) was aided later on in the innings by the impressive Nicholson (11) and Tuthill (29) who both added very valuable quick runs to the final score of 190-7.

Dingle and Smith opened the Aldborough attack, with Hales playing some decent shots to put pressure on. Both bowled very well, Smith (8-1-22-0) with his trademark on the spot bowling and Dingle (7-2-13-2) with a good display of seam bowling removing both openers.

Mack utilised the bounce in the track to good effect and took two wickets in his second over. Tuthill (3-0-17-0) bowled well but was punished by some very aggressive batting before being replaced by Moakes whose left arm seam proved too much for the Hales tail. Moakes and Mack took it in turns to remove batsmen leaving Mack with a respectable five for 22 off seven overs and Moakes with two for 11 off three.

Aldborough As fourth win in four matches left them unbeaten at the top of the table.