Hales A gave Norfolk Division Six leaders Great Melton A a scare as a battling effort saw them end 11 runs short of their target.Chasing 159 to win, Hales were in with a shout right until the last over but were undone by a triple-wicket maiden by Henry Wanchoo.

Hales A gave Norfolk Division Six leaders Great Melton A a scare as a battling effort saw them end 11 runs short of their target.

Chasing 159 to win, Hales were in with a shout right until the last over but were undone by a triple-wicket maiden by Henry Wanchoo.

Having bowled his first seven overs for one run, the canny seamer claimed four wickets in his next five to return figures of 4-20 from 11.5 overs.

Milton Lindsay was left stranded at the non-striker's end on a good-looking unbeaten 37 as the procession of tail-end batsmen unfolded.

But at least Hales could be satisfied that they gave the hosts a run for their money with the experienced trio of skipper Damien Loines (39), Kevin Springall (21) and Steve Claxton (14) also in the runs.

MoM Mark Roe, in his first game since retiring to take up umpiring at the end of last season, showed he still has what it takes with a 4-35 haul.

Melton's batting was dominated by a hard-hit 54 from John Moxon, with D Malcolm (21) and Mike Phoenix (12no) the only other double-figure contributors.

Hales were afflicted by a rash of dropped catches which would have given them a lesser total to chase, but in fairness the malaise also spread to the hosts fielders.

Hales Colts entertained leaders Blundeston on Saturday in Norfolk League Division 10 and had the first laugh with visiting captain Talbot back in the shed third ball thanks to a good catch by bowler Alex Taylor for a duck.

But from then on in, it seemed to go pear-shaped as Mobbs and Gooch let loose at the Hales' attack. Of the Hales seamers, only Isaac Rolf found any consistency, with 1-23.

MoM Jack Cook bowled eight fabulous overs, producing figures of 3-20.

This saw the visitors finish up on 210 all out, probably 50 runs short of what they had hoped for.

The Hales reply started well, with Bassingthwaighte firing two boundaries in the first three balls off the bowling of paceman Gooch, but he was bowled next ball for just eight.

Cook held his ground for a while with a patient and well-worked 12 but the Hales' lower order was dismissed all too quickly, all out for 41. But well done to Taylor and Rolf for pushing the Hales' total past 40 for the batting point.