Hales paceman Rob Andersen staked an early claim for the best bowling performance of the season with a stunning 8 for 12 return that enabled his side to snatch a Division Two victory from the jaws of defeat.

Hales prospects looked grim when, after being invited to bat by visitors Saham Toney on a rain-softened surface, they were dismissed for 51 in 29 overs.

Few would have looked beyond Saham's Paul Norman, who took six for 16, for the man of the match honours. But left-armer Andersen had other ideas, as he tore through the line-up claiming five wickets in an eight-over opening burst at a cost of four runs. Tea was taken with Toney 23 for 6 off 14 overs but there was to be no respite for the Brecklanders, who were all out in the 23rd over for 42.

Swardeston A recorded a second straight victory at Hethersett & Tas Valley, who were reduced to 46-6 with Uzi Hussain taking five. James Hipperson (40) and Dean Parfitt (26) added 66 for the seventh wicket, as a 120 total was posted, Hussain finishing with 6-38. Swardeston slumped to 36-3 but an unbeaten partnership of 85 between Callum Taylor (48*) and David Micklethwaite (37*) saw them safely home.

The Watson brothers Ashley (4-35) and Aaron (6-19) sealed a 61-run Norwich victory over Sprowston, who were dismissed for 106 chasing 168 to win in their Premier Division clash. The result propelled Norwich, relegated from the EAPL last season, level with Old Buckenham, whose game was rained off. Lowestoft's Peter Sims (5-9) and Keiran Jones (4-4) skittled out Stow for a paltry 35 as their bid to reach a modest 107 victory target collapsed. Luandre Van Wyk had earlier helped to bowl Stow into what look like a strong position with 4 for 21. Luke Findlay hit an unbeaten half century as Fakenham crushed Acle, reaching their 124 target with seven wickets in hand.

Bradenham recovered from a crisis to beat Norwich A in Division One. Bradenham were 50 for 7 when Will Dewing, aged 15, and Andy Wilton, aged 18, put on 65 to take the score to 130. Dewing topscored with 35 and Wilton 27 not out before Norwich were dismissed for 101. Ben Baldwin bagged four wickets in Topcroft's keenly-contested draw with Bradenham, while Rhys Purnell's half century was Horsford A's bright spot in a 22-run defeat by Dereham.

Rob Porter hit 60 as Beccles beat Great Melton by 100 runs in Division Two.

Bungay's Tom Yorke led a powerful assault on the Narborough bowling with an unbeaten 107.

Will Lewis weighed in with 79 as Bungay posted a daunting looking 243-3 before dismissing their West Norfolk opponents for 146 in the Division Four encounter.

Ryan Woods (70) and Mark Wyatt (55) dominated Mundford's 211-8 total but they were foiled as Kirkley and Lowestoft Railway clung on at 159-9.

Thetford were also thwarted by the tailenders as Great Melton A reached 73-8 having been set a 185 target. Thetford's innings featured an unbeaten 75 from Ryan Conroy and 56 from Neil Lockwood.

Ben Clarke hit 78 as Cromer A made a game but ultimately vain bid to pass a 202 victory target set by Winterton. Great Witchingham A enjoyed a win, Barney Goodrum hitting a half century and Michael Seago bagging 5 for 23 in an 85-run win over Sheringham.

Chris Sparkes scored over half of Hardingham's runs with an unbeaten 84 but could not prevent defeat against Garboldisham. North Runcton A's Jack Major took four wickets and Nick Henry contributed an unbeaten 86 to help earn a winning draw against Old Buckenham A.

In Divison Six Saxlingham A's Mark English posted an unbeaten century and there were half-centuries for Topcroft A's Peter Askew and Thetford A's Dave Newey.