Davies hits century for Cromer

Cromer will be hoping for an improved display after a disappointing draw with Diss in the Alliance Premier Division on Saturday.

They travel to Brundall this Saturday to play Vauxhall Mallards A and they will be looking for a better display in the field.

This weekend also sees the start of the 44th annual Cromer Cricket Week. Saturday Second XI v Rocklands (1pm), Sunday v Presidents XI (11.30am), Monday v Essex Exiles (2pm), Tuesday v Stanstead Hall (2pm), Wednesday v Tony Lawes Memorial XI (11.30pm) and Thursday v St. Margaretsbury (2pm).

Friday is Junior Day where all the club's young cricketers get involved. From 10am to noon and 1-3pm there is coaching and games for eight to 13 years, followed by a game between

the U15s and the Gentlemen of Cromer at 4pm.

Cromer entertained Diss on Saturday. Tom Davies won the toss and put the visitors in to bat then later showed how to make use of the wicket with his maiden Alliance century.

Diss made a steady start, going at about three an over, but Cromer also grabbed a couple of early wickets with Liyanage getting Wilby and Tooke.

Simon Cooper joined Rush in the middle and this pair moved the score along, increasing the rate to five per over. Both batted aggressively and rode their luck but the scoreboard was ticking over nicely for Diss.

Rush moved beyond his half-century, as did Cooper.

The partnership was finally broken when Regis caught Cooper (73) off the bowling of Elliott.

New man Rob Tooke continued the attacking play and batted well for his 33 before being caught behind off Warnes' bowling. Rush followed shortly after for 73.

In the remaining overs four more wickets fell but it didn't affect the run scoring with Cooper hitting 27 and Spinks adding 24. Diss finished on an impressive 298 for eight from their 50 overs.

Michael Warnes picking the wickets of the Diss middle order finished with 4 for 88 whilst Nish Liyanage took 2 for 53.

Cromer didn't get off to the best start, losing early wickets with Germon dismissing Tuck, Charlwood and Liyanage.

The north Norfolk side were struggling on 31 for three from 11 overs and the runs were hard to come by. Germon picked up his fourth wicket getting Turner (28) leg before and Cromer were now 56 for four from 19 overs.

At this point victory was not in the Cromer thoughts and it was already a case of holding out for as many points as possible.

Tom Davies and Michael Warnes were the two at the crease and they stabilised their side's innings and there was even a small hope of victory if the two remained together.

Both players were batting brilliantly and reached their fifties in a stand of 124 before the partnership was broken when Rush bowled Warnes for an excellent 66.

Any slim chance of winning had now gone but Tom Davies continued to shine in the middle.

The Cromer captain was closing in on his first Alliance century and he reached his hundred in the penultimate over with a boundary.

He was dismissed with the next delivery he faced and was out on 103 after a superb batting display.

Dean Elliott batted out the final over and finished not out on 18 as Cromer ended on 240 for seven.

Germon was the pick of the bowlers, taking 5-45 and Rush picked up two.

Diss: J Wilby c L Barrett b N Liyanage 8, H Rush c-b K Regis 73, D Tooke c D Turner b N Liyanage 7, S Cooper c K Regis b D Elliott 73, R Tooke c L Barrett b M Warnes 33, C Cooper c K Regis b M Warnes 27, W Dawson c K Tuck b M Warnes 2, B Spinks c K Regis b M Warnes 24, M Tooke not out 5, T Weal not out 6; extras 40. Total (8 wkts) 298. Bowling: M Warnes 13-0-88-4, N Liyanage 13-1-53-2, K Regis 13-0-75-1, J Battrick 7-0-33-0, D Elliott 4-0-37-1.

Cromer: D Turner lbw C Germon 28, K Tuck c H Rush b C Germon 13, R Charlwood c T Weal b C Germon 0, N Liyanage c S Cooper b C Germon 0, T Davies c-b C Germon 103, M Warnes b H Rush 66, L Davies lbw H Rush 0, D Elliott not out 18, L Barrett not out 0; extras 12. Total (7 wkts) 240. Bowling: C Germon 13-3-45-5, S Cooper 13-2-44-0, R Tooke 12-0-64-0, C Cooper 5-0-49-0, H Rush 7-0-35-2.