Alliance Division Two leaders Hales' dip in form continued as they suffered their second reverse in successive weeks.They fell 30 runs short of a modest 145 victory target set by bottom club Dersingham (144 for nine).

Alliance Division Two leaders Hales' dip in form continued as they suffered their second reverse in successive weeks.

They fell 30 runs short of a modest 145 victory target set by bottom club Dersingham (144 for nine).

Experienced campaigners Milton Lindsay (66no) and Jon Vale (73) scored half centuries as rock- bottom Hales A registered their second Norfolk League Division Four victory of the season, beating third-placed Yarmouth A by 57 runs.

The duo's 115-run third-wicket partnership was the foundation for a best of the season 211-6 total.

On one of the few occasions when Hales had managed to use up the 45 overs this season, Lindsay carried his bat for an intelligently-crafted 66, while Vale's innings, spanning around 15 overs, was a mixture of strokemanship and powerhouse hitting which gave the innings some vital middle order impetus.

Yarmouth failed to find the spark to ignite their run chase and never really looked like getting to grips with the task, despite the best efforts of Neil Hodds (57), who top scored in the 154-9 reply.

Tight bowling from fired-up pace aces Matt Parkin (three for 37) and Todd Jones (three for 32) was supplemented by two for 31 from the ever-reliable Jamie Weston, while Josh Knights bowled with fire and not much luck during five overs which cost 17 runs.

The highlight of some good ground fielding was an excellent direct hit by Joe Kay to run out the potentially dangerous Graham Doggett for 30.

Hales MoM: Jon Vale and Milton Lindsay.