North Walsham Indoor Cricket LeagueTHE final round of league matches saw Aldborough clinch the runners-up spot in Division One - securing the one point they needed after champions Cromer inflicted a heavy defeat on Vauxhall Vipers.

North Walsham Indoor Cricket League

THE final round of league matches saw Aldborough clinch the runners-up spot in Division One - securing the one point they needed after champions Cromer inflicted a heavy defeat on Vauxhall Vipers.

Starting a man short, Vipers were made to pay heavily, Cromer's batsmen intelligently running the ball into the gaps left by the missing fielder.

Brown (34 not out) and Wright (40 not out) gave them the perfect start, Buck's quick 25 not out adding to the Vipers' woe. They took three late wickets, but Cromer had the impetus to stack up 131 runs.

Skipper Jon Spelman was an early run-out victim, but brother James (35 not out) stayed with Rob Purton (26) to give them a chance of winning. Cromer halted their progress with two further run-outs and Vipers slumped to a meagre 78-3 off their 10 overs.

Aldborough knew they only needed a point from their match with Sheringham to take second place, which they did comfortably in an assured batting display. Yarham bludgeoned his way to 38 not out, with Burton gamely adding 25 not out to the cause. Still, 110-3 was a gettable target, which Sheringham's youngsters set about reaching with aplomb.

Maturing with every game, young Taylor hit 27 not out in a consistent season for him with the bat, whilst Hudson (26 not out) and James Moy (24 not out) saw them over the finish line in the final over.

Worstead and Aldborough A finished in the bottom two places in the league and consequently were required to play-off in a preliminary cup match.

Batting first, Eagleton (28 not out) and Hemp (27 not out) gave them the perfect start before both had to retire. Toll, Williamson and Yaxley kept the run rate at 11 an over, though their opponents slowed them down in the final overs with some fine bowling from Perry-Warnes.

This set up an exciting match, with Aldborough A determined to reverse the previous week's league defeat - also at the hands of Worstead. Smith (40 not out) and Flanaghan (25 not out) matched the start that Worstead's openers had given them, but some tight overs from Vann and Eagleton ensured that the game went down to the wire.

In a furious finish, Aldborough finished on 111-3, agonisingly just one run short of Worstead's score.

On Sunday, the remaining eight teams contest the cup, with the four first round losers going into the plate competition.

The revised fixtures are: 9.30am Sheringham v Worstead, 10.30am Aldborough v Happisburgh Colts, 11.30am Happisburgh v Vauxhall Vipers, 12.30pm Cromer v Bradfield.