LODDON beat Old Catton by 20 runs in Norfolk League Division Two after being asked to bat first.Loddon got off to a slow start, losing two wickets by the 14th over and K Jones, who was seeing the ball well, needing a partner.

LODDON beat Old Catton by 20 runs in Norfolk League Division Two after being asked to bat first.

Loddon got off to a slow start, losing two wickets by the 14th over and K Jones, who was seeing the ball well, needing a partner.

A Baker (35) managed to hold his end and helped the score along to 101 when Jones (45) ripped his hamstring and had to retire hurt.

S Nunn (6) was looking good but was caught behind by an outstanding backward diving catch by keeper J Cooke.

With Loddon running out of overs and desperately needing a competitive total, D Debenham (18 not out) and K Pitman (20 not out) managed to push the total to 155.

Loddon gained early momentum when K Pitman took an edge of B Lakey which was held by keeper S Armiger in his first over then held onto a forward diving catch off C Baker's bowling in his second over.

Catton found a partnership, though it was contained very well by Baker and Pitman. Pitman eventually got the breakthrough and had L Prime caught by S Nunn at long off.

T Rowson bowled well, taking three wickets which included the crucial wicket of P Knowles, excellently caught by sub fielder L Jones.

S Nunn also picked up three wickets. An excellent fielding performance all round from Loddon helped to contain the runs for Old Catton to finish 135 all out.

Loddon Garden & Seed Centre's MoM: K Pitman.

Meanwhile, Loddon A travelled to Happisburgh and were beaten by six wickets in Norfolk League Division Six.

R Edmonds was happy to win the toss and bat first. Loddon got off to a flier through N Reeve who took advantage of the short boundary, with some classical cover drives. He was well caught on the edge of the boundary for 32, followed in the next over by A Wells.

R Edmonds and M Shipley batted steadily, rotating the strike well against some good slow bowling. After the drinks break M Shipley opened his shoulders with a huge six over mid-wicket, but was caught trying to go for another six.

This brought Loddon A's form batsmen to the crease, A Aldred. He and R Edmonds kept the run rate rising through good running and dropped catches.

A Aldred succumbed to N Page's tight bowling, bowled for 12, bringing T Jermy to the crease. He immediately got the fielders running as he turned ones into twos with R Edmonds. They put on 40 in eight overs.

Jermy was eventually bowled for a quickfire 18, and R Andrews (3) fell in similar fashion in the next over.

R Edmonds fell for 71 after dispatching D Trivett for six over the longest boundary. G Shipley, B Thompson and M Edmonds finished off the innings with some exciting running, taking Loddon A's total to 178 for eight.

Things looked shaky when A Wells and R Andrews, although bowling well, could not contain the opening batsmen. Control was finally gained when A Aldred and T Jermy were brought into the attack. Jermy in his second over picked up the wicket of C Allen (44), thanks to a nonchalant one-handed catch by R Edmonds.

D Trivett (12) was ran out in the 24th over with the score on 105, and with the run rate slowing Loddon A were still well in the game.

The Happisburgh batsmen edged the ball and mis-hit their shots, to where there were no fielders. Good fielding by Loddon A, and B Thompson in particular, made sure pressure was maintained. D Raynor, who had been very lucky, was eventually caught by M Shipley off Jermy for 20, bringing R Mash to the crease who got off to an equally fortunate start.

A Aldred bowled an excellent spell of swing bowling with no reward and was replaced by R Edmonds, bowling slow left arm in tandem with T Jermy who was in the middle of an equally superb spell. Both spinners bowled extremely tightly, and with good variation, but neither could get the vital break through.

L Rowlfy brought up his 50 in the 40th over, but was bowled two balls later by R Edmonds.

It was left to A Wells and R Edmonds to keep the bowling tight and pick up more wickets with 25 required off five overs.

Neither could make a breakthrough, and the batsmen ran quickly between the wickets.

A Wells struggled to get his line and length, allowing R Mash to dispatch three boundaries, which took Happisburgh over the finishing line.

Musker McKintyre MoM: R Edmonds for his stubborn, if lucky, innings of 71.