Topcroft A consolidated their third place position in Norfolk Alliance Division Six with a comfortable seven-wicket win over Lowestoft A.

Winning the toss, David Reeder asked the visitors to bat first on a good wicket. The opening pair of Goldspink and Nixon made a solid start against tight bowling from Rob Marshall and James Nobbs.

Jack Baldwin and Robin Pearson (15) were then introduced into the attack but it was not until the 27th over when Topcroft took the first wicket, with Baldwin removing Goldspink for 29, caught by Neil Twyman.

Pearson bowled a superb controlled spell of left-arm spin, and he took the wicket of Nixon, caught by Nobbs for 40. Marshall returned to claim two wickets and McAlone was run out by Neil Twyman for 42. S Aldred finished 23 not out as Lowestoft posted 190 for five.

In reply, Topcroft got off to a great start with Harry Windridge and Matt Goodfellow looking in fine form. The pair had taken the score to 71 off 16 overs when Goodfellow (42) was unlucky to be bowled, when the ball rebounded off his back foot onto the stumps.

Twyman soon followed without scoring before Windridge was lbw for a well made 29. Rob Marshall joined David Reeder as the experienced pair measured the run chase perfectly.

With some aggressive batting and good running between the wickets they reached their target with two overs to spare. Reeder finished on 37 not out and Marshall 43 not out as Topcroft A secured 21 points.

This week, Topcroft A travel to second-placed Garboldisham A.

Lowestoft Town A: K Goldspink c Twyman b J Baldwin 29, W Nixon c Nobbs b Pearson 40, H George c-b Marshall 21, S McAlone run out (Twyman) 42, S Porter lbw Marshall 8, S Aldred not out 23, W Cooke not out 3, extras 24. Total (5 wkts) 190. Bowling: R Marshall 12-2-53-2, J Nobbs 11-1-35-0, J Baldwin 8-1-29-1, R Pearson 12-2-46-1, H Windridge 3-0-14-0.

Topcroft A: H Windridge lbw Shea 29, M Goodfellow b Wright 42, N Twyman c Aldred b Wright 0, D Reeder not out 37, Rob Marshall not out 43, extras 41. Total (3 wkts) 192. Bowling: M Shea 10-0-38-1, A Palmer 10-0-50-0, C Wright 9-1-40-2, A Thompson 12-5-31-0, W Nixon 3-0-13-0.

Topcroft Sunday beat Mattishall by 31 runs in the Mid Norfolk Sunday League.

Topcroft won the toss and batted first. However, with Mattishall only having seven players, the start was delayed. With no sight of the players the game got under way and Topcroft openers Ben Baldwin and Chris Taylor ran the ball into gaps and put on 35 from the first four overs.

The remaining players then arrived but some damage had been done that proved costly.

Baldwin (30), Taylor (21) and Tim Alexander (10) all fell to Jay Estoe-Smith to leave Topcroft 78 for three.

David Reeder and Ben Davey then put on a match winning partnership of 95 for the fifth wicket before Davey was bowled for 43.

Two further quick wickets fell before a good unbroken partnership between Shaun Flint and Reeder took the score to 219 for six. Flint finished on 11no and Reeder an impressive 72no.

Mattishall lost two early wickets to the pacey Tim Alexander. Eastoe-Smith was looking dangerous before Mitchell Baldwin (15) deceived him with a yorker and bowled him for 35.

Alexander returned to bowl J Grant for 44. Ben Baldwin had swapped the gloves with Chris Taylor and the duo struck when Bingham edged behind for 21.

Reeder then claimed the wicket of Fordham (6) and then ran out Gagen for 22.

Baldwin then cleaned bowled the remaining three men as Mattishall finished on 187 from 38.3 overs. Alexander took three for 26 and skipper Baldwin finished with four for 38.

Topcroft Sunday: B Baldwin b Eastoe-Smith 30, C Taylor b Eastoe-Smith 21, T Alexander c Fordham b Eastoe-Smith 10, D Reeder not out 72, B Davey b T Grant 43, J Rhodes c-b J Grant 1, M Baldwin run out Hubbard 2, S Flint not out 11, extras 28. Total (6 wkts) 218. Bowling: J Eastoe-Smith 10-0-47-3, K Bingham 2-0-27-0, R Hawkins 7-0-21-0, J Grant 8-0-43-1, T Grant 8-0-32-1, O Hubbard 5-0-34-0.

Mattishall: J Chetwood c Davey b Alexander 4, J Grant b Alexander 43, O Hubbard b Alexander 1, J Eastoe-Smith b M Baldwin 35, K Bingham c Taylor b B Baldwin 21, G Gagan run out (Reeder) 22, L Goodey b B Baldwin 19, T Fordham c Flint b Reeder 6, T Grant b B Baldwin 0, R Hawkins not out 0, G Hawkins b B Baldwin 0, extras 27. Total 187. Bowling: T Alexander 10-2-26-3, C Taylor 6-2-14-0, R Pearson 4-0-28-0, D Reeder 8-0-49-1, M Baldwin 3-0-13-1, B Baldwin 7.3-0-38-4.