TOPCROFT entertained Swardeston A in Alliance Division One and collected an excellent 24 points which moved them into fourth place ahead of this week’s visit to Bradfield.

Swardeston’s Peter Thomas elected to bat. Their opening pair of brothers, Jordan and Callum Taylor, looked solid to begin with but an ill-judged single to the deadly Matthew Goodfellow accounted for Jordan with a direct hit.

Rostron soon removed the younger Taylor with the score on 45, with a delivery that came back and brushed the glove as he shouldered arms. It was a simple catch behind for Topcroft’s Chris Taylor.

Rostron in the following over removed Hetharage with a well-executed slower delivery. At 51-3 Swardeston had to rebuild.

Much depended on the experienced Outar, who after a shaky start, soon looked comfortable on the good batting track.

David Todd accounted for Cadge with a good catch from Baldwin at deep mid-wicket. Outar started scoring freely off the slower-paced bowling of Marshall and D Todd but the re-introduction of I Todd saw him sky an ambitious pull into the safe hands of Marshall.

Useful contributions from Thomas, Reynolds and Matthew Taylor, along with regular wickets for the Topcroft bowlers made for an exciting end to the visitors’ innings as they reached 225 for maximum batting points. Topcroft just failed to take maximum bowling points, Swardeston on 225-9.

Topcroft were soon 26-3 with the loss of Taylor, Baldwin and Davey who all struggled against the movement in Micklethwaite’s bowling.

James Goodfellow joined Hancock with 200 runs exactly needed for victory, and some excellent strokeplay saw the pair add 77, with Hancock passing 50 for the second time in four innings before he got a leading edge off the leg-spin of M Taylor. He was caught by J Taylor at the third attempt. Ian Todd soon came and went, the hosts struggling on 103-5.

Rostron joined Goodfellow and he batted like a man with a point to prove after some disappointing efforts with the bat this season. The pair carefully negotiated the bowling to keep the scoreboard ticking over, Goodfellow making a well-constructed 50.

Topcroft needed 56 runs off the final 10 overs with five wickets in hand. But they lost a further three quick wickets as J and M Goodfellow along with Marshall were all adjudged lbw, Topcroft 172-8.

David Todd joined Rostron, with the majority of the Topcroft team and supporters hoping they could hold on for a losing draw. But the batsmen had other ideas as they put the pressure back on Swardeston with excellent running and big hitting.

With 16 runs required from two overs, Rostron survived a loud appeal for a caught behind. His response was to send a huge six straight back over the bowler’s head. Sensible running in the final over left just two wins required for the win. Todd held his nerve as he scrambled a two from a fine on-drive.

Swardeston A: J Taylor run out Goodfellow 15, C Taylor c C Taylor b Rostron 15, L Herathge b Rostron 10, M Outar c Marshall b I Todd 60, S Cadge c Baldwin b D Todd 10, J Pearson lbw Marshall 19, D Reynolds b I Todd 37, P Thomas b I Todd 25, R Micklethwaite c Goodfellow b Rostron 0, M Taylor not out 13, D Horrex not out 3; extras 18. Total (50 overs) 225-9. Bowling: I Todd 13-1-62-3, G Rostron 13-2-62-3, D Todd 9-0-37-1, R Marshall 12-1-38-1, B Baldwin 3-0-23-0.

Topcroft: C Hancock c J Taylor b M Taylor 55, C Taylor b Micklethwaite 0, B Baldwin lbw Micklethwaite 0, B Davey lbw Micklethwaite 1, J Goodfellow lbw Micklethwaite 69, I Todd c Reynolds b M Taylor 0, G Rostron not out 38, M Goodfellow lbw Outar 0, R Marshall lbw Outar 0, D Todd not out 27; extras 36. Total (50 overs) 226-8. Bowling: R Micklethwaite 13-0-67-4, D Reynolds 6-1-24-0, M Taylor 11-2-55-2, D Horrex 7-1-17-0, J Pearson 4-1-21-0, M Outar 9-1-36-2.

TOPCROFT A continued their impressive start to the season with a winning draw away to Lowestoft A. With six players aged under 17, the young side put in an excellent all-round display. Captain David Reeder lost the toss and was asked to bat first on a good wicket that offered something to both bat and ball. Andy Adcock (11) fell in the 11th over before Paul Holmes, who was looking in good touch, was caught at slip for 17 with the score 78-2 from 22 overs. In the next 10 overs, 16-year-olds Tim Alexander and Harry Windridge attacked the home bowling and doubled the score, before Windridge fell for a well made 43. With the platform set, 15-year-old James Nolan joined Alexander and both played some powerful strokes all around the ground.

Alexander hit 13 fours in a superb innings of 67 before being bowled by Goldspink. David Reeder joined Nolan and they put on 60 runs in the next nine overs before Nolan was caught for 36. Jack Baldwin joined Reeder in the last few overs as the pair took Topcroft to an impressive 248-6 from their 50 overs. Jack Baldwin finished 14 not out and David Reeder 32 not out.

In reply, Jack Baldwin struck in his first over, removing the experienced Paul Rice, who misjudged a full toss and was clean bowled for four. James Nobbs then had Lawrence De Coteau lbw for 12 and Paul Holmes produced a superb run-out to account for Kieran Goldspink for 26. Wicket-keeper Ian Holmes then took a great catch, diving down the leg side to account for Stewart Larter (9) off the bowling of James Nolan, to leave the home side 64-4. Lowestoft were looking to bat out for a draw as Topcroft juggled their bowling options around at regular intervals. Paul Holmes claimed his first-ever wicket in the A team when S Porter was caught by Jack Baldwin at the second attempt for 21. Reeder then removed his opposite number Wayne Nixon for 35 and Will Cook for 21. With men around the bat, Windridge took a diving catch off Reeder’s last ball to claim another bowling point to account for S Macalone (13). Lowestoft closed on 177-8 from their 50 overs with David Reeder taking 3-29 from his nine overs.

This was an excellent all-round display from Topcroft which gained them 18 points. This week they entertain league leaders Garboldisham A, 1pm.

Topcroft A: A Adcock c Cooke b Shea 11, H Windridge c Nixon b Goldspink 43, P Holmes c Nixon b DeCoteau 17, T Alexander b Goldspink 67, J Nolan c DeCoteau b Tirimarna 36, D Reeder not out 32, H Taylor c-b Tirimarna 0, J Baldwin not out 14; extras 28. Total (46 overs) 248-6. Bowling: M Shea 11-2-41-1, R Tirimarna 11-0-54-0, A Haverson 12-2-60-0, S Porter 4-0-25-0, L DeCoteau 4-0-32-1, K Goldspink 4-1-28-2.

Lowestoft A: P Rice b Baldwin 5, K Goldspink run out Holmes 26, L DeCoteau lbw Nobbs 12, S Larter c Holmes b Nolan 9, S Porter c Baldwin b Holmes 21, W Nixon c Holmes b Reeder 35, S Macalone c Windridge b Reeder 13, W Cooke c Baldwin b Reeder 21, R Tirimarna not out 7, M Shea not out 4; extras 24. Total (46 overs) 177-8. Bowling: J Nobbs 5-0-15-1, J Baldwin 10-0-28-1, J Nolan 8-1-29-1, T Alexander 8-2-40-0, H Taylor 3-0-20-0, P Holmes 2-0-9-1, D Reeder 9-2-29-3, A Adcock 1-1-0-0.