Back-to-back wins for Topcroft

TOPCROFT visited Norwich & Coltishall and left celebrating back-to-back victories for the first time this season. This was a well-earned win for the players who will take confidence into the second half of the season, starting with a visit to Brundall tomorrow to play league leaders Vauxhall Mallards.

TOPCROFT visited Norwich & Coltishall and left celebrating back-to-back victories for the first time this season.

This was a well-earned win for the players who will take confidence into the second half of the season, starting with a visit to Brundall tomorrow to play league leaders Vauxhall Mallards.

Skipper Shipley lost the toss but N&C surprisingly elected to bat.

Young and Jackson came to the wicket and attempted to play some attacking strokes that failed to connect before Marshall had Young caught by I Todd for 11. Marshall then bowled Jackson next ball to reduce Wanderers to 19-2.

Gunawardene, bowling a miserly spell, built lots of pressure on the Wanderers' batsmen and this told when Stebbings attempted one shot too many and was out to a well-judged catch by Davey off the bowling of Marshall for nine.

Marshall then claimed the next wicket to fall, Elliott caught at gully by a good reflex catch from Gunawardene.

This left Wanderers in trouble at 39-4.

Baldwin replaced Marshall and immediately caused problems for the batsmen, claiming the wicket of Allen caught by wicketkeeper Hancock.

Warburton replaced Gunawardene who finished with tight figures of 13-4-22-0, and continued to make runs hard to come by for the batsmen.

Brown and Hayes set about re-building the N&C innings with some sensible shots and good running between the wickets. Brown held the innings together until he was deceived by a clever ball from Baldwin which offered a return catch to the bowler for 35.

This brought J Bunting to the crease who, along with Hayes, started to play some shots to increase the total. This partnership was broken with the score on 94 when I Todd trapped Hayes lbw for 26. Warburton then had G Bunting caught and bowled with Wanderers

111-8. Marshall was re-introduced into the attack and soon had J Bunting caught by Hancock to complete his

five- wicket haul (5-25).

Warburton claimed the final wicket of Lambert to bowl N&C out for 116 inside 40 overs.

Hancock and Warburton looked to be positive from the outset and both batsmen played some stylish strokes to bring up a partnership of 53 before Warburton was removed for 22.

Gunawardene joined Hancock at the crease and quickly got into his stride with a couple of strokes to the boundary.

The N&C fielders soon began to become despondent and were trying anything they could to claim wickets, and an argument soon ensued between Hancock and N&C skipper Young.

This unsettled Hancock who was the next wicket to fall, caught behind for a well-made 24. Baldwin came in and continued his recent good form.

With only 30 runs required Gunawardene was caught and bowled by Jackson for 26. Then Baldwin was caught off the bowling of Jackson for 23 with just two runs required for victory.

Goodfellow played out the remaining two balls of the over and left Shipley to score the winning runs and secure a

six-wicket victory for Topcroft.

Cunningham's Auto man of the match was Rob Marshall.