Beccles Town beat Hardingham by seven wickets in the Carter Cup first round with Robert Porter hitting an unbeaten century.

Visiting Town captain Robert Porter won the toss and elected to bowl on what looked another excellent Hardingham wicket, but with early conditions perhaps favouring the Beccles seam attack.

Alex Wright and David Turrell began with good discipline, Turrell taking the key wickets of Goodrum and Franks cheaply.

The introduction of Ross began to mount pressure on the Hardingham middle order, and further wickets meant Beccles went into lunch in excellent shape, with the home side registering 86 for five.

Wickets became harder to come by after the break, but Town continued to bowl well, with George and Lowe going cheaply.

Hardingham posted 240 from their 60 overs, but Beccles got the good start they needed.

Robert Porter and Richard Turrell have shown signs of forming a formidable opening partnership, and they shared a blistering 88-run stand, both putting away anything slightly too full or short.

Turrell was unlucky to be adjudged caught behind for 33, and Sneddon followed him almost immediately, embarrassingly leaving a ball from spinner Scott and falling lbw for nought.

In-form Richard Porter began confidently against the varied Hardingham attack.

He and his brother put on 77, before Richard was again unfortunate to be given lbw.

Robert Porter was joined by Ross, and both continued in the same fashion as those before them, batting patiently and putting away the bad balls.

With just 20 to win, Rober Porter (108 not out) brought up his century, and just two overs later knocked off the winning runs with 13 overs to spare.

It was a confident and comprehensive victory for Beccles, who will be looking to take this form into the league, starting with Sheringham at home tomorrow.