TOPCROFT made the long trip to Cromer and were beaten for the first time this season.They will now need to pick themselves up for a big weekend - hosting Lowestoft on Saturday, and visiting Acle in the Carter Cup on Sunday.

TOPCROFT made the long trip to Cromer and were beaten for the first time this season.

They will now need to pick themselves up for a big weekend - hosting Lowestoft on Saturday, and visiting Acle in the Carter Cup on Sunday.

Skipper Goodfellow won the toss and elected to bowl on a wet track. Unfortunately, this decision backfired immediately as Cromer cruised to 65 without loss after 15 overs following some wayward bowling.

The introduction of spin duo Phil Du Plessis and David Todd, however, stemmed this.

Du Plessis bowled Turner and had Charlwood caught behind for 0. He also removed opener Kimber for 40, and with Cromer skipper Davies being run out for five, Warnes returning a simple catch back to D Todd for 25, and D Todd having Elliott lbw for 12, the innings was finely poised at 120-6. A Todd and I Todd came back on for the remaining 10 overs with the former finding L Davies' edge which was safely taken by Hancock for four. Buck and Brown played some lusty blows and made 21 and 23 respectively before falling.

The innings was brought to a close when I Todd had Regis caught one-handed at mid-on by Goodfellow.

The innings closed on 171 in the 49th over, with Du Plessis (3-34) D Todd (2-31) and I Todd (2-27) the pick of the bowlers. This gave Topcroft an extra over which proved to be pivotal.

Topcroft opening pair Hancock and D Todd started cautiously taking the score to 24 after 15 overs before both fell to leave Topcroft struggling at 25-2.

It got even worse for the visitors as Du Plessis was run out for nought after a mix-up.

I Todd joined his captain and stood firm in the difficult conditions as Goodfellow took the attack to the bowlers with a flurry of boundaries. At drinks the score was 71-3.

Disaster struck the over after though as Todd was bowled by a seaming ball for seven.

Reeder dug in for a while until trying to work a ball to the leg side and getting a leading edge back to the bowler for five. Goodfellow and Rostron started to build a decent partnership, with Goodfellow bringing up his 50.

He began to open up, hitting a straight six off spinner Brown before playing one shot too many and departing for a well-made 66. This left the score on 147-6 with five overs left.

The injured Mattocks fell lbw in the next over before Rostron smashed a six and scampered a two and with Topcroft on 161-7 with two overs to go they fancied their chances of a win.

The game swung back in favour of Cromer with Brown picking up Rostron for 25 and Holmes for one in the same over. B Davey and A Todd attempted to see out the remaining over to ensure a 90 per cent losing draw was attained.

The first three balls were negotiated easily enough before Davey was rapped on the pads with three balls remaining.

A huge appeal followed but the umpire eventually raised his finger to give Cromer the victory.