Alex Craske, aged 16, was the star with the bat as Cromer A got their Alliance Division Five season back on track at Norton Warnes on Saturday.Batting at No 6, Craske came to the wicket with Cromer's assault on their target of 212 in the balance against Rocklands.

Alex Craske, aged 16, was the star with the bat as Cromer A got their Alliance Division Five season back on track at Norton Warnes on Saturday.

Batting at No 6, Craske came to the wicket with Cromer's assault on their target of 212 in the balance against Rocklands. But he settled his side's butterflies with a nerveless display of quality stroke-making, hitting beautifully down the ground and picking off the Rocklands' attack with a couple of huge straight sixes.

It was a superb performance from Craske under pressure, and it was clear to the crowd on the south bank that he has all the tools to develop into a punishing all-rounder. Craske couldn't quite finish the job, slicing to backwards point on 54, but skipper Alan Lithins saw his side home with a cool unbeaten 38, and Dave Green hit the winning runs with a couple of overs to spare.

Cromer had restricted Rocklands to a manageable 221 for eight, Paul Winterbone taking three for 52 in a welcome return to the club after a 10-year sabbatical. But it was an inconsistent bowling performance by the home attack, and only the metronomic Kevin Neale found his line regularly.

Neale put on the brakes and finished with a valuable two for 39 off 12 overs of nagging swing bowling, Adie Buck chipping in with two for 54.

Again the Cromer top order got themselves in and out again, with Ben Clark chipping to mid-on, Gavin Neale running himself out, and Richard Graveling slicing to point after some promising shots.

Kevin Neale and Buck also came and went after good starts, but Craske was poised for his match-winning knock to give Cromer 24 points which saw them climb back up the table.