Norwich will be hoping their season is finally up and running after coming through a tense encounter against Great Witchingham to record only their second win of the campaign.

Skipper Ashley Watson recorded an unbeaten 45 to guide his side to a much needed success which increased the gap between themselves and the EAPL's bottom side Bury St Edmunds to 31 points.

Witchingham were asked to bat first on a baking hot day at Ingham and struggled to a modest 216 from 64 overs.

After going into lunch on 119-5 it needed a patient partnership between Luke Schlemmer (55) and Matthew Long (45), who put on 82 for the sixth wicket, to help the visitors get beyond 200.

In the absence of injured opening bowler Andy Hanby the Witches started with the slow right arm of Mike Jones, trying to exploit any turn from the dry wicket.

They had an early breakthrough when Jonathan Spelman caught Lewis Sexton off the bowling of Jones with the score on 27. But any Norwich nerves were soon settled as Oli Higenbottam and Will O'Donnell put together a partnership of 101 before Higenbottam departed for a well struck 66, including eight fours and two sixes.

When Chris Borrett was trapped leg before second ball and Russell Emmanuel went for nine there was some hope for Witchingham. But after O'Donnell had departed for 48 Watson dug in to lead his side home with one over to spare. He lost two more partners however before Jamie Mirner hit the last ball of the 55th over for six to secure a deserved victory.

The Witches' second defeat of 2017 saw them replaced in second position by champions Swardeston, who came through a high scoring game against Frinton at The Common to record a first win in four.

Youngster Freddie Ruffell returned the superb figures of 9-2-17-4 as visitors Frinton suffered a mid innings collapse but they still got up to 297-7 in their 64 overs.

It was a testing target but Swardeston rose to the challenge, led by Essex youngster Callum Taylor who made 120 in 96 balls to help his side to a four wicket win in the 52nd over. Opener Jason Reynolds had earlier made an important 60 for the hosts.

Horsford had opponents Cambridge Granta in a spin as they cruised to victory by 61 runs.

Skipper Robbie Findlay took 6-40 and Norfolk captain Chris Brown 3-33 as the visitors collapsed from 107-2 to 164 all out at Manor Park.

Granta were chasing a solid total of 225 built on an impressive 80 from Luke Findlay, with the runs scored down the order by Ryan Findlay (29), Brown (25) and Darren Smith (26) proving crucial.

There was an exciting finish at Halvergate as Vauxhall Mallards and Bury St Edmunds ended up having to settle for a draw.

Mallards were able to declare a few overs early after reaching 268-6, with John Ewart contributing 72 and Luke Caswell, Mitchell Todd and Ali Shearer all making scores in the 40s.

Daron Cruickshank dominated Bury's reply, making 141, but the wickets kept falling and the visitors finished eight runs short on 259-9 in their 58 overs.

Horsford had opponents Cambridge Granta in a spin as they cruised to victory by 61 runs.

Skipper Robbie Findlay took 6-40 and Norfolk captain Chris Brown 3-33 as the visitors collapsed from 107-2 to 164 all out at Manor Park.

Granta were chasing a solid total of 225 built on an impressive 80 from Luke Findlay, with the runs scored down the order by Ryan Findlay (29), Brown (25) and Darren Smith (26) proving crucial.

There was an exciting finish at Halvergate as Vauxhall Mallards and Bury St Edmunds ended up having to settle for a draw.

Mallards were able to declare a few overs early after reaching 268-6, with John Ewart contributing 72 and Luke Caswell, Mitchell Todd and Ali Shearer all making scores in the 40s.

Daron Cruickshank dominated Bury's reply, making 141, but the wickets kept falling and the visitors finished eight runs short on 259-9 in their 58 overs.