Beccles Town CC held on for a winning draw in Alliance Division Two at Mundford in a close encounter.The visitors were asked to bat first having lost the toss on a wicket which was hard with a green tinge.

Beccles Town CC held on for a winning draw in Alliance Division Two at Mundford in a close encounter.

The visitors were asked to bat first having lost the toss on a wicket which was hard with a green tinge. Richard Turrell wasted no time in punishing the bowling of opener Smeed, dispatching any delivery that was too full to the boundary.

Robert Porter supported his opening partner competently, playing Grady particularly well through the on side.

The early introduction of Bailey halted the flow of runs, the spinner soon produced a ball that knocked back Turrell's off stump. The opening partnership was worth 50 from the first 10 overs.

Richard Porter joined his brother at the crease and the in-form batsmen built a solid partnership. This was based on sensible batting, defending well but punishing any ball that was loose. Both batsmen passed 50 and looked set until the nagging pace of Leeder undid for Robert Porter (83) who was stumped by Keeler.

It was another wonderful batting display from the brothers in a second wicket partnership of 128.

Within the space of two overs Richard Porter was also out, having already launched Leeder for two huge sixes in an over, his attempt to do the same from the final ball of the same over saw him bowled for an impressive 85. Despite Anderson falling for a duck, Richard Holm and Alex Sydenham pressed on with the total reaching 237 after 46 overs.

Munford openers Yates and Gooderham began well and survived some testing deliveries from David Turrell, however Beccles were unable to apply consistent pressure on the two batsmen and the scoreboard raced to 54 of just nine overs.

The introduction of Josh Aldridge brought a wicket in his first over, Gooderham (29) was caught by Richard Porter. Aldridge removed Yates (22) in his second over caught by Richard Turrell at point and with Keeler dismissed early lbw, Beccles had pulled themselves back into the game with the visitors 81 for 3.

Woods and Harrison steadied the ship with some simple batting, although the Beccles bowlers continued to bowl in the wrong areas and all too often made life easy for the middle order batsmen.

The pair put on 86 for the fourth wicket before David Turrell bowled Harrison (40) in the fourth over of his second spell, breaking a stump in the process.

The game was now in the balance with the score on 162-4 with 16 overs remaining. Aldridge replaced Turrell at the end of his allotted overs and achieved the crucial breakthrough dismissing Woods for an impressive 56.

For the first time in the innings, Beccles began to bowl tight lines with Aldridge and Etteridge supporting each other well. Both bowlers picked up tail end wickets and with Robert Porter and Alex Sydenham combining well to run out Smeed, it was left to Allsop to take the game to the wire.

Mundford needed 10 from the final over and fell just short reaching 235. Josh Aldridge was the pick of the bowlers taking 5-45 in two excellent spells of seam bowling.

Beccles conceded just 44 runs from the final 10 overs, this kind of discipline should be applied from the start of an innings going forward if the team are to succeed.

Beccles Town 1st XI entertain Dersingham at Beef Meadow tomorrow. The Sports and Social Club will be open and all visitors are welcome.

Beccles Town have drawn Lowestoft Town in the second round of the Carter Cup competition. The match will be played at the Denes Oval, Lowestoft on Sunday May 24.