TOPCROFT travelled to Downham Market looking to continue their good start to the season in the Norfolk Alliance Premier Division. They gained nine points from a losing draw and will take pride in the fact that they were not bowled out by the league leaders.

TOPCROFT travelled to Downham Market looking to continue their good start to the season in the Norfolk Alliance Premier Division. They gained nine points from a losing draw and will take pride in the fact that they were not bowled out by the league leaders.

Topcroft know that all round improvement will need to be made if they are to win tomorrow when they entertain mid-table Brooke.

Topcroft skipper Goodfellow won the toss and invited the home side to bat first on a glorious day.

The opening bowlers could not have got Topcroft off to a better start with Marshall removing A Stuart caught and bowled for nought with his fourth ball and A Todd removing Tulett to the same dismissal for six, leaving Downham 8-2.

These wickets brought overseas player Murdoch to the crease and he soon got off the mark by punishing some wayward bowling. Du Plessis was brought into the attack and claimed the wicket of Murdoch lbw for 30, Downham in trouble at 57-3.

Downham captain Lanchester joined Yates and set about rebuilding the innings. Both batsmen played sensible cricket and after a slow start to their partnership they soon began to accumulate runs. They took the score to 151 before D Todd had Lanchester stumped for 43.

Rostron was brought back into the attack and removed Barnard for three. Yates continued to score runs and was ably supported by Todd before Marshall returned to have Todd caught by wicketkeeper Taylor for 22.

A Todd removed Yates, caught by Taylor for 96, and during the late batting fireworks Marshall removed Corbett, caught by Taylor for 36 as Downham amassed a total of 273-8 off their 50 overs.

Topcroft knew that a good start would be required and the score was taken to 27 before Hancock was adjudged lbw for four. Du Plessis soon followed caught at first slip off Downham Market's Addam Todd.

Goodfellow and D Todd batted sensibly and began to build the innings for Topcroft. The score moved to 78 before D Todd was caught at slip off Yates for 30. Rostron signalled his intent, getting off the mark with a boundary. The pair accumulated runs as Downham tried things to create wickets and the score moved to 183 before Goodfellow was caught behind for 58 off Yates, the partnership worth 105 runs.

Rostron soon fell for his maiden Premier Division half-century (55) bowled by Addam Todd. With five wickets down, Downham sensed they could get the victory and Davey and Marshall fell in quick succession to Yates, leaving Topcroft 201-7.

Barber was unlucky to be bowled off his back leg for 12 and Topcroft were 201-8 and in great danger of losing. In the final over Downham's Addam Todd bowled Topcroft's Adam Todd with a vicious yorker to complete his five-wicket haul and leave Taylor to see out the final two balls of the innings to ensure the losing draw.