KEITH PEEL Master batsman Carl Rogers has another Lovewell Blake Norfolk Cricket Alliance record in his sights. Two weeks ago, Great Witchingham's opener set a new 305-run third-wicket partnership benchmark with Stephan Le Roux at Topcroft.

KEITH PEEL

Master batsman Carl Rogers has another Lovewell Blake Norfolk Cricket Alliance record in his sights. Two weeks ago, Great Witchingham's opener set a new 305-run third-wicket partnership benchmark with Stephan Le Roux at Topcroft. Now the Norfolk vice-captain is fast closing in on his own record for aggregate score in a season, the 1171 runs he compiled for Witchingham last summer.

With eight games left, Rogers is on 826 after hitting his fourth successive Alliance century on Saturday, in a winning draw against Vauxhall Mallards which keeps Witchingham top of the Premier Division table.

Rogers scored 124 (including 23 fours), Le Roux 64 not out, Michael Atkinson 64 and Shaun Arthurton 57 as Witchingham posted a daunting 321 for two at Walcis Park.

Mallards responded with 238 for four, of which Peter Free made 79 and Steve Goldsmith 67.

North Runcton stay second, now only eight points adrift, after a six-wicket win at Cromer in which Paul Harwood claimed four wickets and scored 59 not out.

Norwich & Coltishall Wanderers are third after an unbroken 135-run stand between Mohammad Wasim (82) and Will Stebbings (45) steered them to a seven-wicket win over bottom team Beccles, for whom Gavin Ewing hit 103 and Ryan DeCoteau 43.

Parvez Mir, previously with Ingham, Vauxhall Mallards and Horsford, marked his return to Norfolk club cricket with a century and three wickets in a winning draw at Old Buckenham which takes Swardeston up to seventh place.

Parvez, whose work took him out of the county, contributed 127 (16 fours and four sixes) to Swardeston's 250 for five total. Terry Perry hit 62 in Old Buckenham's 216 for nine response.

Old Buckenham are now joint fourth with Downham, for whom Sam McLeod scored 67 in a five-wicket defeat of sixth-placed Topcroft.

A mere 13 points separate the top six teams in Division One, which Sprowston still lead despite their first defeat, by four wickets against Diss.

Chris Cooper, Danny Tebble and David Tooke hit half centuries for Diss, while Adam Ferguson scored 68 not out and Tim Hales 48 for Sprowston.

Richard Turrell's maiden century (105) helped Kirkley to a 53-run win in their derby clash with fellow relegation battlers Lowestoft, for whom Nathan Garrod top scored with 58.

Saham Toney stay top of Division Two after a 16-run defeat of Bradfield, who slip from second to fifth place behind Mattishall, Hunstanton and North Runcton A.

Horsford beat East Harling by four wickets to move to within six points of Division Three leaders Sheringham, for whom Mark Spillett scored 103 and David King 69 in a winning draw against Norwich A.

Glen Boardman hit 72 in Swaffham's winning draw against Beccles A, for whom Nick Warnes top scored with 56.

Alliance chairman Stuart Bartrum has responded to club queries by confirming that performances by overseas players will count towards records.

He said: “Any player who plays in our competition can lay claim to records. Where confusion has arisen is in our player of the month awards.

“These are open only to English qualified players, as the sponsors are keen to reward local players in the league and reflect what they've done.”