A disappointing loss of form continued for Sheringham as they fell to a heavy six-wicket defeat, at home to leaders Sprowston in Norfolk Alliance Division One.

A disappointing loss of form continued for Sheringham as they fell to a heavy six-wicket defeat, at home to leaders Sprowston in Norfolk Alliance Division One.

Although, a game against the high-flying visitors was always going to be tough, the manner of defeat, which saw a dreadful batting collapse for the third week running, was certainly avoidable.

After winning the toss on a decent enough track, Sheringham opted to bat first. The Lobsters recovered from the early loss of Hudson (1) courtesy of M Spillett and D Smith.

The duo moved the score on to 60 before Spillett was caught for 26 in the 22nd over. Captain Wright joined Smith at the crease and the pair found scoring increasingly difficult against a stingy bowling attack.

The score had edged to 80, before a double blow in the 35th over. Wright (5) and Smith, who top scored with 33, both fell, perhaps frustrated by the visitors economical bowling. More wickets soon followed, as the middle order disintegrated. J Moy (0), J Hall (10), J Lloyd (1) and W Templeton (0) all went quickly, the latter two to the impressive, returning opener Hanby as the home side subsided to 95-8.

It wasn't long before Hanby (4-20) wrapped things up with G Youngs (10no), helping the Lobsters reach 100 as they were bowled out for just 103 in only 43 overs.

It was an unenviable task defending such a dismal total, against a Sprowston side that have been batting so strongly all season. But at last the Lobsters did show some fighting spirit.

Templeton struck twice in his first three overs for the club, bowling at real pace and extracting some good bounce from the Sheringham track, Hall taking a smart catch at gully to get things going.

With Sprowston 8-2 an unlikely challenge looked possible, but for it to materialise more quick wickets were needed. Unfortunately it wasn't to be as edges evaded the fielders, and Sprowston gradually knocked off the runs they required.

Wright (1-24) did pick up a deserved wicket and a second burst from Templeton brought another. However, the impressive Templeton (3-39), nor the unfortunate J Moy (0-29), could add further to the wickets tally despite some attacking field settings.

Sprowston reached their target with relative ease for the loss of just four wickets, in only 22 overs.

Sheringham will need a much improved, and more sensible display with the bat at Topcroft this week, if they are to avert a dangerous slide down the Division One table.

Sheringham: Hudson c Murrell b Rose 1, Spillett c Palmer b Roff 26, Smith c Glozier b Hamson 33, Wright st Murrell b Roff 5, Hall c b Hemson 10, Moy c b Hemson 0, Lloyd b Hanby 1, Youngs not out 10, Templeton b Hanby 0, Tuck b Hanby 1, Moy c b Hanby 3; extras 15. Total 103. Bowling: Hanby 11-3-19-4, Rose 5-0-20-1, Roff 13-1-40-2, Pearce 7-4-5-0, Hamson 8-2-17-3.

Sprowston: Glozier c Lloyd b Templeton 1, Palmer c Hall b Templeton 2, Murrell c Moy b Templeton 21, Williams lbw Wright 19, T Hales not out 40, S Hales not out 16; extras 8. Total (4 wkts) 107. Bowling: Tuck 5-0-16-0, Templeton 6.5-1-39-3, Wright 4-1-24-1, Moy 6-0-29-0.