Topcroft are at home to in-form Acle in the Alliance Premier Division this weekend, hoping to bounce back from their defeat at Lowestoft.Topcroft travelled to Lowestoft on the back of a fine opening win against Vauxhall Mallards full of confidence.

Topcroft are at home to in-form Acle in the Alliance Premier Division this weekend, hoping to bounce back from their defeat at Lowestoft.

Topcroft travelled to Lowestoft on the back of a fine opening win against Vauxhall Mallards full of confidence. Topcroft lost the toss and were asked to bat.

Openers Warburton and Baldwin started brightly with a partnership of 33 before Baldwin was again judged lbw off the bowling of Sims.

Warburton and Gunawardene built steadily until Warburton was caught behind for 30 with the score on 68.

Two more quick wickets followed when Gunawardene 20 was harshly adjudged lbw, again to Sims, and Goodfellow was caught behind with the score on 80-4.

This left Shipley and Batty the uphill task of setting a score against the tight bowling of Sims and Bishop. They appeared up to the task with some good running and ball striking. They had compiled a partnership of 58 when Shipley was bowled for 42. Dave Todd came in and played a short cameo before he was caught at mid-off for 16. Mostert wrapped up the Topcroft tail to finish with 4-36. Batty remained not out at the end on 23 and Topcroft finished with 166-9, thanks to a boundary off the last ball by Taylor.

At tea Topcroft felt that they could have made a defendable total, but Mostert had other ideas.

Captain Shipley had expressed the need to keep things tight early on and limit the boundary balls to Mostert. Things couldn't have been worse when, in the eighth over, Lowestoft were 64-0. The situation was also not helped by an injury to Goodfellow who had to be taken to hospital, which left Topcroft fielding with 10 men.

With no need to take risks Mostert picked off the runs while Sims blocked up the other end. D Todd and Warburton bowled tightly with Todd coming close to taking a wicket when Sims was spilled at mid-off. This could have given Topcroft a look in with the score on 74 and put some extra pressure on Mostert, but this wasn't to be when Mostert brought up to his hundred and victory in the 40th over.

Cunningham's Auto MoM: Dave Todd.