Gillingham (3 pts) lost to Reepham and Salle (23 pts) by seven wickets in the Norfolk League Division Eight.They travel to league leaders Bunwell tomorrow with an immediate chance to reclaim top spot in the division.

Gillingham (3 pts) lost to Reepham and Salle (23 pts) by seven wickets in the Norfolk League Division Eight.

They travel to league leaders Bunwell tomorrow with an immediate chance to reclaim top spot in the division.

Gillingham suffered their second defeat of the season on Saturday, having been thoroughly outplayed by a strong Reepham and Salle side.

Having lost the toss and been asked to bat, openers Patrick and Stevens made steady progress against some tight opening bowling, reaching 34 before Patrick (17) was the first to fall.

Choudhary's introduction to the attack stopped any Gillingham momentum, offering no scoring chances before accounting for Aldridge (2).

Hoare joined Stevens at the crease and looked fluent from the off, but any hope of a partnership was ended when Stevens (15) was adjudged lbw.

Liam Smith and Cable both also fell to Choudhary before Reepham benefited from some good fortune to claim the decisive wicket of Hoare (21), bowled by an unplayable shooter.

Choudhary claimed a fifth wicket to record excellent figures of 5-22 before Matt Smith and Vickers added a patient 21 for the ninth wicket, dragging the total to 110, significantly below par.

To have any chance of a positive result Gillingham needed early wickets, and they were given some hope as Cockings trapped Harwood in front in the fourth over.

A variety of bowlers were used in search of further wickets without success as Tipple (40) and Minns (37 not out) added 69 for the second wicket, aided by some wayward bowling by the Gillingham attack.

The introduction of Stevens in the 16th over brought two quick wickets, but the damage was already done as Reepham reached the target in just 19 overs.

Gillingham: B Patrick c Harwood B D Tipple 17, A Stevens lbw R Choudhary 15, J Aldridge c Tipple B R Choudhary 2, T Hoare B G Wright 21, L Smith B R Choudhary 6, S Cable lbw R Choudhary 1, G Wentworth B R Choudhary 0, J Cockings c Minns B G Wright 0, M Smith c Minns B T Ward 6, B Vickers B T Ward 11, T Budden not out 0; extras 31. Total 110.

Bowling: T Ward 8.2-1-27-2, D Tipple 12-4-21-1, R Choudhary 12-6-22-5, G Wright 6-1-24-2, S Harwood 2-0-2-0.

Reepham and Salle: P Minns not out 37, S Harwood lbw J Cockings 6, D Tipple c Vickers B A Stevens 40, P Harwood c Aldridge B A Stevens 10, R Choudhary not out 6; extras 12. Total (3 wkts) 111.

Bowling: M Smith 3-0-12-0, J Cockings 5-0-30-1, J Aldridge 3-0-25-0, B Patrick 2-0-10-0, L Smith 4-0-24-0, A Stevens 2-1-9-2.