Swardeston's dynamic run chase made light of a challenging target against Brooke in the first round of the NACO Invitation Cup on Sunday. Visitors Brooke were asked to bat first and it needed Indian star Rahul Dewan to avert a crisis as he single-handedly led the innings.

Swardeston's dynamic run chase made light of a challenging target against Brooke in the first round of the NACO Invitation Cup on Sunday.

Visitors Brooke were asked to bat first and it needed Indian star Rahul Dewan to avert a crisis as he single-handedly led the innings.

Brooke reached 145 for five when Dewan - having already contributed 101 of those runs - finally found some support from Stuart Pritty as the pair put on a stand of 127.

Dewan was eventually dismissed for 161 from 130 balls, while Pritty added 65 as Brooke reached a competitive 280 for seven from their 50 overs.

Jordan Taylor was dismissed for a golden duck in the Swardeston reply, but skipper Mark Thomas set the tone, hammering 47 from just 28 deliveries.

Jaden Hatwell (94 from 46 balls) and Peter Lambert (80 from 46 balls) maintained the momentum as Swardeston cruised to victory in the 26th over.

Olly Higenbottam fired a century as champions Norwich began their defence of the trophy with an eight-wicket win over Hethersett & Tas Valley at Ingham.

Paul Reeve hit 90 in Tas' total of 187 all out but the Alliance side's bowlers could not cope with Higenbottam as he blasted 102, with Norwich reaching their target in the 20th over.

Vauxhall Mallards eased to a 110-run success at Diss. New Zealander James Marshall struck 88 in Mallards' 298 for seven, before the hosts were bowled out for 188. Paul Bradshaw and Rob Purton each took three wickets for Mallards.

Downham also went through, beating Alliance Premier Division rivals Acle by 33 runs.

Patrick Yates (54) top scored in Downham's 225 all out and although Geoff Handley replied with 53 for Acle, they were dismissed for 192, with three wickets each for Alex Stuart and David Grady.

Lowestoft's South African, Mpho Sekhoto, followed up his league century on Saturday by reaching three figures again on Sunday in his side's 125-run win at North Runcton.

Sekhoto (112) and Billy Brice (60) put on 127 for the second wicket as Lowestoft reached 283 for six. The South African then bagged three wickets, while Under-14 bowler Kieran Jones also claimed two victims as the hosts were all out for 158.

Horsford defeated Fakenham by 60 runs, with half-centuries for Nathan Perry-Warnes and Luke Caswell, while Cromer conceded their match at Great Witchingham and Old Buckenham received a bye to the next round.

Second round draw: Great Witchingham v Vauxhall Mallards, Lowestoft v Norwich, Horsford v Old Buckenham, Swardeston v Downham.

Shield draw: Fakenham - bye, Brooke - bye, North Runcton v Diss, Acle v Hethersett & Tas Valley.

Ties to be played on Sunday, June 20.