Acle climbed off the bottom of the Premier Division as their survival bid gathered pace with a winning draw at home to Lowestoft.

The hosts, who picked up their first win in their previous game, batted first and posted their highest score of the season, 159, despite Lowestoft skipper Peter Sims taking four for 27. Acle could not quite complete outright victory as Lowestoft finished nine wickets down, still 40 runs short of their target.

Fakenham and Norwich saw off the challenge of the two teams directly below them to stretch further away from the chasing pack.

Leaders Fakenham had teenager Ashley Jarvis to thank for the second week running. He top scored with 41 at Downham as Angus Stuart (four for 46) helped restrict the visitors to a low total.

It proved enough, however, as Fakenham won by 17 runs, with Ian Slegg claiming three for 29. Jack Gould made 43 for Downham.

Norwich proved just too strong for Old Buckenham at Ingham, as Ashley Watson (four for 19) and Paul Wiseman (four for 34) bowled the visitors out cheaply. The hosts also struggled with the bat, but Tom Goodley (31no) saw them to a four-wicket win.

Skipper Simon Chipperfield rescued Sprowston from 55 for five at home to Stow with a hard-hitting 83 from 67 balls, including five sixes.

Chipperfield and Ryan Pearce then claimed two wickets each, but Stow hung on to claim a 90pc losing draw, skipper Keith Thomson (39) top scoring.

North Runcton's Norfolk seamer Kieran Bunting, pictured, dismantled the Vauxhall Mallards A batting, taking six for 29 as the visitors were bowled out for 67 in a seven-wicket defeat.

Ashmanhaugh & Barton Wanderers slumped to the bottom of the table after their 59-run defeat at home to Diss.

Cromer took over at the top of Division One after their four-wicket win at Topcroft, Chris Hancock hitting 53 for the hosts.

Morning leaders Mattishall lost by one wicket at Swardeston A.

Nathan Gostling made 42no to help Mattishall recover from 58 for seven to post a competitive score and then picked up four for 39 in the Swardeston reply. Jack Grant also bagged a hat-trick for Mattishall, but Callum Taylor hit 53 as the hosts edged to victory.

Brooke's 22-run win at Norwich A lifted them up to third.

Jonathan Wills (53) top scored for Brooke against his former club and although Tom Vaughan made 48 in the Norwich reply, Tom Nudd took six for 33 to seal Brooke's victory.

Bradfield beat Dereham by four wickets to move up to fourth place.

Rory Olpin took five for 21 as Swardeston B stayed top of Division Two with a five-wicket triumph over Fakenham A.

Half-centuries from Luke Newton (75), Adie Wood (68) and Simon Mower (55) helped Saham Toney collect maximum points in an 84-run win at home to Hethersett & Tas Valley. Matthew Steward made 64 for the visitors.

Beccles remain second after beating Hales & Loddon by 128 runs, with Rob Porter hitting 70no for the victors.

Thetford's Liam Conroy blasted his second successive league score of 122 as his side cruised to a nine-wicket win at Kirkley & Lowestoft Railway in Division Four.

Ray Smeed added 52 for Thetford, after Craig Guy made 60 for Kirkley.

Bungay remain top after picking up maximum points at Cromer A in a 199-run win which featured a century for Will Lewis (125no).

Winterton's Charles Lockhart claimed seven for 17 to leave Ashmanhaugh & Barton Wanderers A in disarray on their way to a five-wicket defeat.

A matchwinning stand between Phil King (70) and Jack Newbery (65no) secured Old Buckenham A's nine-wicket victory at Dersingham in Division Three.

In Division Five, the outstanding performance of the day came from Steven Watts, who took five for three from 12 miserly overs for Bradenham A as they beat Aldborough by eight wickets.

Thetford A kept up the pressure on Division Six leaders Bradfield A with a 92-run success at home to Diss A.

Simon Lewis scored 63 for Thetford, before Matt Kerling bagged five for 14 to secure maximum points for the hosts.