TOPCROFT continued their impressive start to the season with an excellent 90 per cent winning draw against Lowestoft Town in the Alliance Premier Division.

TOPCROFT continued their impressive start to the season with an excellent 90 per cent winning draw against Lowestoft Town in the Alliance Premier Division.

After defeat against Cromer it was important for them to bounce straight back. With 17 points from the game and another excellent performance, the young Topcroft side travel to Downham in good heart.

On a glorious afternoon the visitors won the toss and asked Topcroft to bat first. They lost an early wicket with David Todd (6) caught behind.

Hancock was joined by Du Plessis and they were building a good partnership when Hancock fell to Sims for a well made 27. With spinner Avontuur and captain Sims bowling in tandem, runs were at a premium.

Skipper James Goodfellow (6) tried to go over the top but was well caught by Smith. Du Plessis was in fine form again, and stylishly brought up his half-century. Mattocks (16) dug in deep and gave the South African valuable support before he was bowled by Reid.

Rostron and Du Plessis went on the attack with some hard hitting and audacious strokes. Rostron (25) was caught in the deep and Du Plessis was finally caught, also in the deep, for an excellent innings of 91.

Reid picked up two further wickets and finished with 4-74, as the hosts finished on 209-8 from their 50 overs, 90 coming in the last 10 overs.

Adam and Ian Todd opened the bowling without success before Rostron was introduced and took the wicket of Sims (21), top edging an attempted hook. Garrod (6) soon followed after a mix-up with South African Avontuur led to him being run out after a great take from Rostron.

With Lowestoft continuing to bat very positively, Goodfellow introduced his spin duo of Du Plessis and David Todd. Du Plessis snared the big wicket of Avontuur, bowled for 26.

Du Plessis took a further two wickets to swing the game Topcroft's way when big hitting De Coteau (24) was caught by Adam Todd and Patnell (22) was caught and bowled. When David Todd removed Scott (12) lbw, Lowestoft had settled for a draw.

Storey batted for a while for his duck before he also fell lbw to David Todd. D Smith continued to bat very well, protecting Brice, but when Adam Todd returned he removed Brice with his first ball, caught behind by Taylor.

Mann gave Smith solid support as Topcroft pushed for the last two wickets for an outright win but in the last over Smith brought up a well-deserved 50. Lowestoft finished on 183-8 with David Todd finishing with 2-21 from 13 overs and Du Plessis 3-43 from his 13 overs.

Meanwhile, Topcroft U15 won their second group match by eight wickets over Hales.

Hales posted 98-4 from their 20 overs. Captain Jack Baldwin took 1-15 and Charlie Mattocks 2-14. Topcroft batted patiently and despatched loose deliveries. Jack Baldwin batted very well for his 38 before Charlie Mattocks (26 not out) and Tom Graham (18 not out) saw them home in the 18th over for a comfortable victory.

Topcroft U13 put in a below-par performance against Saxlingham and lost by eight runs. Saxlingham posted 260-4, net 228. Adam Paterson, Ollie Holmes, Tom Ridley and Robin Pearson taking a wicket each.

In reply, Topcroft posted 276 runs but lost a disappointing seven wickets and finished net 220. James Nolan top scored with an excellent 16 runs followed by Tom Ridley with nine runs.