Topcroft can take many positives out of the game at Acle, as it was a much improved display over the previous two weeks and one which will give them confidence for tomorrow's home match with Cromer.

Topcroft can take many positives out of the game at Acle, as it was a much improved display over the previous two weeks and one which will give them confidence for tomorrow's home match with Cromer.

The match was called to a halt, with each team winning their bonus points and five for the abandoned game, taking the Topcroft total to 12 points for a game in which they had dominated.

Topcroft were looking to regain some form after two disappointing results. They won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch that looked good, but likely to break up .

The Topcroft openers batted sensibly against some tight bowling and took the score to 28 before D Todd was caught at slip for 13.

Du Plessis and Hancock began to increase the run rate before rain stopped play with the score 74-1 off

21 overs.

An early tea was called so that a decision could be made as to what would happen if play could resume.

It was decided that the initial game would be abandoned and that a new game of 30 overs would be played, but it was stipulated that a further break for rain would result in an abandonment. Topcroft lost this toss and were put into bat.

Du Plessis and Hancock opened for the Tigers, but Hancock fell early bringing D Todd to the crease. Du Plessis was finding batting easy scoring runs at more than a run a ball, with the score reaching 49 before Todd was caught at the wicket. Du Plessis brought up his 50 off 40 balls before being caught off Grady leaving Topcroft 59-3 off

12 overs.

Goodfellow and Rostron continued to keep the scoreboard ticking, both players accumulating runs to take the score to 96 before Goodfellow was bowled for 24. Mattocks soon followed, leaving I Todd to join Rostron in trying to post an impressive total.

With Topcroft on 110, the heavens opened and the umpires had to decide whether it was safe for play to continue. A halt was called and the umpires shook the Topcroft batsmen's hands, signalling that the game had been abandoned. But after they had been approached by the Acle skipper Huggins and former professional Newman, the umpires' decision changed - play was to continue when the rain eased off.

Topcroft's innings continued. Rostron fell for a valuable 28 with the score on 124. Batty and I Todd (24no) took the score to 134, scoring 10 runs off the last over, setting Acle 135 to win.

Topcroft were fired up with A Todd and Marshall making scoring hard for Acle openers Handley and Murray. On 23 Marshall bowled Murray with a ball that kept low, which brought in skipper Huggins. Topcroft's bowlers continued to dominate with A Todd bowling a very tight spell before Marshall yorked Handley for 21 leaving Acle 42-2.

I Todd replaced his brother and bowled Wilson in his first over: 44-3 of 13 overs. Rostron replaced Marshall and removed Huggins for 22, caught Goodfellow. Danger man Newman joined Nobbs, but Rostron removed him for five: Acle 71-5.

Nobbs and Roberts took the Acle score to 93, before Roberts was lbw to Rostron to leave Acle needing 42 to win off six overs.

The umpires informed Topcroft skipper Goodfellow that the game would be abandoned at the 8.30pm cut-off time if the allotted number of overs had not been bowled by this time.

This angered the Topcroft side, as when the innings began they felt it was unlikely that 30 overs could be bowled by such a time, taking wickets into account.

Spinners Du Plessis and D Todd were introduced in a vain attempt to get the overs in.

But with three overs remaining and Acle on 112-7 the match was called to a halt, with each team winning their bonus points and five for the abandoned game, taking the Topcroft total to 12 points.