North Runcton are the visitors to the Norton Warnes ground this weekend in a very important game as Cromer look to return to winning ways.

Last weekend, for the first time for a few seasons, Cromer travelled to Downham, placed above the West Norfolk side in the Norfolk Alliance Premier Division.

Cromer ended up losing to Downham by five wickets and gaining only four points to the opposition's 22.

The Crabs were put into bat by the hosts.

Openers Tom Davies and Ollie Kimber got their side off to an excellent start and quickly reached 50, but this was the end of the partnership as Davies fell to Stuart for 29.

Australian Max Caius joined Kimber and they continued the steady start that had been made. Carius and Kimber put on 43 before Carius was bowled by Tulett for 12.

Richard Charlwood was next in for the visitors and he and Kimber looked to build a good partnership.

KImber reached his half-century but the run rate had slowed up thanks to some tight bowling from Todd, Tulett and in particular New Zealander Cairns.

The latter was the man to get Kimber leg before for 58 and Cromer were 133-3 from 37 overs.

Charlwood followed back to the clubhouse shortly after for 25, and with the Downham bowlers having really reined the batsmen in the Cromer innings petered out with just 25 runs added in the final seven overs, as five more wickets fell.

Kristian Regis (10 no) and Jack Van Greuning (1 no) batted out to deny Downham maximum bowling points.

Cairns was the pick of the bowlers taking two wickets for just 20 runs from his 13 overs.

Tulett and Stuart were looking to waste little time in chasing down their target of 170 as they both looked to score quick runs.

Their stays at the crease was short-lived as both fell to Carius.

The bowling of Kristian Regis, Max Carius and Colin Brown tightened things up for their side and Downham were 66-3 from 13 overs.

Yates and Harrison were now together in the middle, and with a stand of 47 they took their side over the hundred mark.

Yates (16) fell to Brown but Harrison was batting well and was taking his side towards victory.

Harrison was dismissed by Battrick just short of his half-century for 44, but at this point Downham needed just 11 runs with 10 overs remaining.

Todd hit the winning runs in the 42nd over as the hosts won by five wickets. Forder finished unbeaten on 13 whilst Todd was nine not out.

Max Carius finished with figures of 3-34 from 10 overs.

Cromer: T Davies b J Stuart 29, O Kimber lbw P Cairns 58, M Carius bowled G Tulett 12, R Charlwood c G Tulett b P Cairns 25, K Tuck lbw A Todd 4, C Brown b A Todd 3, A Robinson c P Yates B I Harrison 4, K Regis not out 10, J Battrick run out 1, J Craske run out 0, J V Greuning not out 1; extras 22. Total 169-9 from 50 overs. Bowling: I Harrison 8-1-24-1, A Todd 13-3-39-2, J Stuart 4-0-26-1, G Tulett 12-1-50-1, P Cairns 13-2-20-2.

Downham: D Tulett b M Carius 25, A Stuart b M Carius 17, P Yates lbw C Brown 16, P Cairns lbw M Carius 7, I Harrison c O Kimber b J Battrick 44, J Forder not out 13, A Todd not out 9; extras 42. Total (for 5) 173 from 41.2 overs. Bowling: A Robinson 7-1-41-0, J Battrick 5-0-29-1, K Regis 7-1-32-0, M Carius 10-0-34-3, R Charlwood 3-1-6-0, C Brown 8-2-15-1, J Craske 1.2-1-8-0.