Cromer turned in a dominant performance to get back to winning ways in the Premier Division on a day when the weather generally had the final say.

Only two matches in the senior sections reached their conclusion and one of those was up on the north Norfolk coast where the rain stayed away and the hosts prospered.

Tom Davies' side bounced back from a couple of defeats in impressive fashion as they notched up 247-6 – by far the biggest total of a truncated afternoon – with Richard Charlwood making 56 and overseas player Bilaal Samsoodien 50. The South African then completed an impressive all-round display by taking 6-11 as visitors Ashmanaugh and Barton Wanderers were dismissed for just 87.

A bumper haul of 25 points took Cromer back up to third in the table, just nine behind leaders Downham Town and two adrift of Fakenham.

Both those sides saw their matches ruined by the weather, although Fakenham probably weren't complaining too much after being skittled out for 99, with North Runcton on 18-0 in reply when a halt was called. Their bowling star was Ben Coote, who took 5-26.

David Paterson led the way with an unbeaten 74 as Downham made 170-5 in their match with Lowestoft, who never got a chance to show what they could do with the bat.

It was a similar story in the two other top flight games with Sprowston finishing on 95-3 against Diss and Old Buckenham 148-4 (Terry Perry 60) against Swardeston A.

In Division One Acle were the team to beat the weather as they put a dampener on Great Melton's 40th anniversary celebrations. They got home by three wickets after dismissing the home side for 165 (Josh Rowe 4-43). Leaders Stow got their innings in against Brooke, making 193 against their nearest challengers, but the home side were unable to begin their reply as the division's match of the day ended in a damp squib. Stow remain 35 points clear at the top.

Only one other match in the section saw both sides get a bat, with Mattishall finishing on 26 without loss after restricting Horsford A to 168-5.

'Amazing ton was made in just 28 balls'

Horsford's Stephan Marillier produced perhaps the greatest demonstration of big hitting ever seen in Norfolk in his side's Twenty20 encounter with Fakenham.

He bettered the fastest recorded century in the first class game as he blasted a hundred in just 28 balls at Manor Park.

West Indian big-hitter Chris Gayle took 30 balls to reach three figures for the Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in the Indian Premier League last year – but the brilliant effort was topped by Marillier, who found the Fakenham attack very much to his liking.

Skipper Chris Brown, who has seen plenty of good knocks in his time, said it was one of best innings he had ever witnessed.

'It was a superb exhibition of clean hitting from Stephan,' he said. 'He wasn't trying to hit it too hard, he was just timing it really well, and the ball just kept going over the ropes.

'It's certainly the best knock of its kind I have seen. Stephan scored 50 off 40 balls for us in the East Anglian Premier League a few weeks back so I guess he was warming up for this. '

Fakenham won the toss in the Norfolk Twenty20 group match and decided to bowl first - a decision they soon regretted. Horsford managed 188-8 from their full 20 overs with Marillier's 103 including no fewer than 10 sixes. Support came from Ryan Findlay (26) and Tim Alexander (22 not out). In reply Fakenham managed 135 all out with decent contributions from Chris Spenceley (35) and Lloyd Marshall (27). Findlay took three wickets and Chris Brown, Ben France and Nathan Perry-Warnes two each.

While born in Zimbabwe Marillier - whose older brother Dougie played Test cricket for his country - has now been based in the UK for seven years and is a British passport holder. He is now in his second season with Horsford.

The competition, sponsored by NW Brown Financial Services, reaches its climax with the final on the evening of Friday, August 1. All the matches take place at Manor Park.

Other recent results: Vauxhall Mallards (104-3) beat Great Witchingham (102-4) by seven wickets in 10-over match, Swardeston (115-4) beat Sprowston (111-8) by six wickets, Great Witchingham (97-4) beat Horsford (94-8) by six wickets, Vauxhall Mallards (97-7) beat Fakenham (96) by three wickets, Norwich (162-6) beat Sprowston (133-7) by 29 runs.