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Jonker delays celebrations

Matches played on 31 July 2010: round-up by special correspondent Phil Banyard of the Eastern Daily Press.

North Runcton's Christiaan Jonker hammered 194no to keep Downham's Premier Division title celebrations on hold for another week.

The South African's stunning effort with the bat set up a winning draw at Old Buckenham and ensured Downham's lead did not stretch to 100 points, which would have handed them a record fourth consecutive title with four games left to play. James Heaney made 50no in Bucks' dogged resistance.

Downham, meanwhile, were one wicket away from claiming the title as they picked up a winning draw at home to Norwich & Coltishall Wanderers.

Alex Stuart (77) passed 700 league runs for the season as Downham posted a competitive total. Wanderers started well in reply but Greg Tulett turned the game on its head, taking five for 38. Downham had an over at the Wanderers' last man but were unable to prise him out, denying them seven extra points which would have been enough to claim another championship.

Rayno Arendse hit 59no against his old club Cromer to lead Vauxhall Mallards A to a six-wicket win.

The Premier Division games between Diss and Brooke and Acle and Lowestoft were both abandoned.

Sprowston's winning draw at home to Hales in a 30-over match kept them firmly on course for promotion from Division One.

Iain Murrell top scored with 40 for Sprowston, before Hales made a blistering start to their reply, reaching 60 without loss from 10 overs. However Ryan Pearce (four for 15) and Geoff Roff (three for 28) stopped them in their stride and the visitors were left hanging on as they collapsed to 98 for nine.

Stow moved up to second after their 34-run win at Bradfield. Tom Whitehouse claimed six for 42 as the Bradfield bowlers kept Stow in check, but Daniel Ward (four for 30) and Dammika Perera (four for 34) then bowled the hosts out cheaply.

Norwich A claimed a winning draw at home to Sheringham, while the other games in Division One were rained off.

Mattishall moved to the brink of promotion from Division Two with a winning draw at home to third-placed Downham A.

Ben Bourke (68no), Neil Lockwood (58) and Jay Eastoe-Smith (60) all hit valuable half-centuries for Mattishall, before Jack Gould (51no) led the Downham reply. Mattishall's Daniel Beaumont took four for 35.

North Runcton A continued to battle for their lives at the bottom as they gained a 90pc losing draw at home to promotion challengers Saxlingham.

Barry Cudden made 91 for the visitors, with Runcton's Ben Coote taking five for 49. Greg Marks then hit 60 for the hosts as they got close enough to their target for a greater share of the points.

Fakenham A moved above Dereham after administering a 10-wicket thrashing to their derby rivals. Dereham were rolled out for just 62, with Matthew Burton taking four for 27.

Swardeston B took a 90pc losing draw from their trip to Hillington. Anthony Dobing smashed 120 to give Hillington the upper hand, with Swardeston's Josh Chatland taking five for 61. James Hooper (69) and Kevin Cooper (85no) then took Swardeston to within 12 runs of victory at the close.

Saham Toney beat Garboldisham by three wickets, thanks to the efforts of Simon Mower (four for 40) and Dale Sims (57no).

Burrett puts Tas on track

Hethersett & Tas Valley moved into pole position in the race for promotion from Division Three as they gained a winning draw against third-placed Great Witchingham A.

Nick Burrett fired 53 for Tas, who moved three points clear of Horsford A, with a game in hand.

Horsford A were restricted to 14 points after Dersingham edged to a 90pc losing draw in a closely contested game.

Anthony Reeve hit a century and Robert Impey added 57 but it was not quite enough for Swaffham to secure outright victory against Mundford, whose star performer was Matt Alsop (four for 61).

Acle A collected a winning draw at Thetford.

In Division Four, Sprowston A took over at the top with a six-wicket win at Bradenham A. Ben Graver (82no) and Adam Ferguson (58) were Sprowston's top scorers, while Ian Gibb (52) and Peter Hills (50) made half-centuries for Bradenham A.

Aldborough clinched their first win of the season as they beat Norwich B by eight wickets. Troy Allen smashed 126 for Aldborough after Alex Mhandu made 68 for Norwich.

Anthony Goodrum's 68 helped Hardingham take a 90pc losing draw against Old Buckenham A. Ben Mann made 77 for Bucks.

Only one match was completed in Division Five, as Great Melton A's Paul Stearman (five for 31) dismantled Stow A in a 94-run win.

Mattishall A moved to the top of Division Six as Richard Gostling hit 87 in a seven-wicket win at Mundford A.

Swardeston-CEYMS picked up a winning draw at home to Topcroft A. Tom Snelling (87) and captain Neil Bridgstock (57no) top scored for Swardeston while Snelling also took three wickets.

Beccles A crept to a four-wicket win at Saxlingham A in a low-scoring affair, while Thetford A edged to a two-wicket win in a match similarly dominated by bowlers at Garboldisham A. Rowan Freake took four for 29 for Garboldisham A.