Cromer finally get their Alliance campaign up and running

Last season's runners-up finally picked up their first league win of 2018 at the seventh attempt on Saturday when they saw off Fakenham by six wickets at The Norton Warnes Ground.

The visitors made a more than useful 232-9 but Michael Warnes' side then put in a good team effort to chase it down with 10 balls to spare.

Warnes won the toss and elected to ask Fakenham to bat first and James Craske picked up a couple of quick wickets to reduce the visitors to 22-2.

But the balance of the game then swung as Keegan Monahan-Fairlie (44) and Luke Caswell (55) put on 68 for the third wicket, with Caswell and John Ewart (44) then adding 75 for the fourth.

At one stage Fakenham were 165-3 but the Cromer bowlers kept plugging away and wickets started to tumble as the hosts struggled to get pass 200.

Michael Warnes (3-53) and Kristian Regis (3-50) were the most successful home bowlers while Craske ended up with figures of 2-28 from 10 tight overs.

Cromer's reply got off to a steady start as Frankie Sutton (48) and Matthew Warnes (39) added 73 for the first wicket. Warnes' exit was immediately followed by that of Richard Charlwood, who was trapped leg before first ball, while David Turner (23) and Sutton also went in quick succession to leave the hosts on 121-4.

But Nat Laws (42) and Rob Purton (40) then put together a partnership of 93 for the fifth wicket that effectively won the match and although both were dismissed with the score on 214 Tom Davies and Michael Warnes completed the job.

It was a good day allround for the club, with the seconds winning again to stay top of Division Five. They beat Horsford B by four wickets after bowling them out for 155.

Jamie Carter (56) and Gavin Neale (51) both scored half centuries to help see the visitors home while Cameron Graveling had earlier taken 3-21.

On Saturday Cromer are away to Old Buckenham, who also won for the first time this season at the weekend, while Cromer A are at home to Norwich B.