A THIRD consecutive five-wicket haul from 16-year-old Chris Fuller enabled Bungay to blow the Division One title race wide open on Saturday, inflicting only the second defeat of the season on leaders Hethersett and Tas Valley.

A THIRD consecutive five-wicket haul from 16-year-old Chris Fuller enabled Bungay to blow the Division One title race wide open on Saturday, inflicting only the second defeat of the season on leaders Hethersett and Tas Valley.

This weekend Bungay travel to second-placed Old Buckenham A full of confidence, knowing that on their day they are as good a side as any in this league.

With rain forecast, Bungay captain David Fuller lost the toss and was invited to bat first on a damp wicket.

The Bungay openers started brightly however, M Watts again looking composed as the Hethersett pace attack failed to get any real movement early on.

The opening pair added 37 for the first wicket until Watts was unfortunate to play the ball on to his own stumps for 25.

David Fuller joined brother Chris at the crease but found scoring tough as the bowlers tightened their lines.

Chris Fuller was the next to go, edging to gully, and when the captain laced the ball straight into the hands of the point fielder, Bungay were 50 for three.

T York was joined by debutant D Cushing and the pair started to slowly rebuild the innings.

Cushing was watchful early on as York looked to dominate and after 30 overs the score had moved to 102.

York then started to cut free and passed his 50 as the pair took the score to 142 before York was bowled for 69.

Cushing continued with D Davis as the pair looked to up the tempo.

Cushing fell, caught on the boundary for 34, but Davis, joined by A James, continued to push the score along and after 45 overs the score had reached 195 for five with Davis 26 not out and James 10 not out.

Against the strongest batting side in the league, Bungay had to start well and the new ball pair of D Fuller and T York bowled good lines to restrict the opening batsmen, R Ellis and C Puttock.

Hethersett had reached 22 from the first 10 overs when D Fuller bowled the dangerous R Ellis for eight. Two overs later, York claimed the prize wicket of M Ellis for two and the home side were really on top.

T Shelley joined Puttock fresh from scoring 175 against Beccles the previous week, however he found the Bungay bowlers a lot tougher prospect and he soon became Chris Fuller's first wicket of the afternoon for just 11.

At 48 for three the visitors batting strength continued as ex-Topcroft player Simon Redhead joined Puttock and the pair began to rebuild the innings. Redhead looked in good touch as he punished anything loose as the pair took the score to 125 after 33 overs.

The introduction of A James made the breakthrough as Redhead skied a catch, well taken by C Fuller, and then Puttock finally chipped the ball to Cushing off C Fuller's bowling for 35 to leave Hethersett 146 for five from 35 overs.

Fuller and James both continued to take wickets at regular intervals as Bungay increased the pressure and when Fuller bowled Smith in the 42nd over, Hethersett were all out for 179.

Fuller finished with 5-42 and James 3-26.