Sheringham entertained Norwich B on Saturday looking to build on victories in their first two games but ended up being well beaten on the day.

With the in-form Smith unavailable, Sheringham's day got off to a dreadful start with Nathan Lomax breaking his ankle in the warm-up.

After winning the toss, Sheringham skipper Neave asked the visitors to bat first. Norwich got off to a steady start with the Lobster's openers struggling to find a consistent line.

C Moy and G Enslin soon brought some control back and after 10 overs the score was 23. It was the introduction of change bowlers S Cox and debutant J Pottle that brought the crucial breakthrough however, with the pressure causing a rash stroke from the Norwich opener off Pottle (4-0-20-1), and Cox striking in the next over to leave the score 31-2.

The two new Norwich batsmen quickly counter-attacked, taking advantage of some loose bowling and poor fielding to up the rate on a decent batting track. The visitors reached 93-2 at the 23 over halfway point, with 55 runs added in 10 overs. The returning Cox finally got the breakthrough in the 28th over with the score 115, ending a partnership of 84 that had put the visitors in a strong position. J Platt (7-0-27-1) soon bowled the dangerous Bradford for 46. When Cox (11-1-57-3) struck again to leave Norwich 155-5 Sheringham sensed their chance.

However the final 10 overs of the innings saw the hosts struggle again. A run-out from Neave was the only highlight, as B Goodrum (47 not out) made the hosts pay for their shortcomings. Norwich B reached 220-6 from their 46 overs, probably 50 more than they should have been allowed.

In reply Sheringham got off to a positive start knowing that on a fair wicket victory was still a possibility. Despite Moy (5) falling in the fourth over, they reached 44-1 in the 10th over with M Hudson finding five boundaries. However, the collapse that followed Hudson (22) being adjudged leg before was hugely disappointing. T Sheridan (7), S Cox (0), I Enslin (0), J Platt (0) all fell in the blink of an eye, leaving the Lobsters reeling at 48-6 in the 15th over.

Skipper Neave and veteran S. Hudson set about trying to repair some of the damage and looked in relative control against the change slow bowlers. However, when Neave (12) was bowled and Pottle (2) followed soon after the writing was on the wall.

Sheringham's day was probably summed up when Hudson (11) picked out backward square leg off a leg side long hop to leave the Lobsters nine down. Cornell joined G Enslin (15) at the crease and it looked like some hefty blows from the latter would take Sheringham to the consolation of a batting point. However this wasn't to be as he was bowled trying to keep the strike, the Lobsters all out for 98 in just 27 over and duly suffering a massive 122 run reverse.

The defeat was big wake-up call for the youthful Lobsters after a poor performance all round, in all disciplines.