Norfolk's first home match of their Unicorns Minor Counties Championship season ended in defeat.

Eastern Daily Press: The final day of Norfolk against Cumberland in the Norfolk Festival of Cricket. Norfolk batsman Lewis Denmark in action. Picture: Denise BradleyThe final day of Norfolk against Cumberland in the Norfolk Festival of Cricket. Norfolk batsman Lewis Denmark in action. Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: copyright: Archant 2014)

Cumberland left Manor Park with the spoils yesterday after a strong batting performance in their first innings.

Norfolk began the final day of the match – which had seen much of the first day's play lost to heavy rain on Sunday – on 58-3 and 134 runs behind.

That followed the home team falling for 133 in their first innings before watching Cumberland declare on 325-9.

Norfolk made up the 134 runs but, unusually, exactly to the point where the teams were level.

Eastern Daily Press: The final day of Norfolk against Cumberland in the Norfolk Festival of Cricket. Norfolk batsman Lewis Denmark in action. Picture: Denise BradleyThe final day of Norfolk against Cumberland in the Norfolk Festival of Cricket. Norfolk batsman Lewis Denmark in action. Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: copyright: Archant 2014)

An effort of 192 left Cumberland needing just one run from their second innings, which was calmly played to wrap up the 10-wicket win for the visitors.

The silver lining of that disappointment for Norfolk was a half century for Lewis Denmark on his debut. The Swardeston batsman finished unbeaten on 23 in the first innings, from 59 balls, and then 51 from 132 balls in the second innings.

It was not enough to help Norfolk rescue the match but it points to a promising future in Minor Counties cricket for the 20-year-old, who is the son of Norfolk Cricket Board development officer, Kevin.

The Norfolk Festival of Cricket is due to continue on Sunday, when Bedfordshire arrive for Norfolk's next Minor Counties Championship match.

Eastern Daily Press: The final day of Norfolk against Cumberland in the Norfolk Festival of Cricket. Norfolk batsman Lewis Denmark in action. Picture: Denise BradleyThe final day of Norfolk against Cumberland in the Norfolk Festival of Cricket. Norfolk batsman Lewis Denmark in action. Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: copyright: Archant 2014)

Norfolk are currently bottom of the Eastern Division after two draws and a loss, with Beds only having two draws so far but two more bonus points to sit above Norfolk in the table.

Play is due to get under way at 11am.