KEITH PEEL Zimbabwe international Gavin Ewing has produced probably the most amazing bowling figures ever seen in the Lovewell Blake Norfolk Cricket Alliance. The Beccles skipper's off-breaks brought him three Downham Town wickets for two runs off 14 overs, no fewer than 13 of them maidens.

KEITH PEEL

Zimbabwe international Gavin Ewing has produced probably the most amazing bowling figures ever seen in the Lovewell Blake Norfolk Cricket Alliance. The Beccles skipper's off-breaks brought him three Downham Town wickets for two runs off 14 overs, no fewer than 13 of them maidens. Relegation battlers Beccles went on to win by five runs and move off the Premier Division bottom spot, which is now occupied by Cromer after their winning draw at Topcroft. Top-table Great Witchingham clinched a 34-run victory at Swardeston off the penultimate ball to strengthen their challenge for the championship and a place in the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League promotion play-offs.

With seven games left, they are now 20 points ahead of nearest rivals North Runcton, who had a losing draw against Old Buckenham.

Third-placed Norwich & Coltishall Wanderers beat Vauxhall Mallards by three wickets, but trail Witchingham by 48 points, the equivalent of two wins.

Angus Stuart claimed four wickets as Beccles were bowled out for 164, of which Ewing made 39, Dave Chambers 27, Ryan deCoteau 24 and Richard Porter 23.

Ashleigh Corbett contributed 52 to Downham's 159-run reply.

Stephan Le Roux hit 81 not out and Shaun Arthurton 64 as Witchingham made 247 for seven and then dismissed Swardeston for 211, with Jeremy Pilch top scoring on 65 and Carl Rogers taking four wickets.

Khaqan Arsal contributed 107 as Old Buckenham scored 266 for seven at North Runcton, whose 241 for eight response included 102 from James Brown.

Mohammad Wasim top scored with 27 for Wanderers at Brundall after they had restricted Mallards to 144 for nine, with Wayne Biss and Peter Free both making 32.

Brooke went top of Division One with a five-wicket defeat of morning table leaders Sprowston, who drop to fifth.

Diss and Dersingham are joint second after respectively beating Kirkley and Saxlingham.

David Tooke (119 not) steered Diss to an eight-wicket win after they had bowled out Kirkley for 183, with Marcus Bishop scoring 97 and Chris Cooper taking six for 14.

Acle are a point behind after a losing draw at Lowestoft, where they wanted four off the last ball for victory, but managed only a single.

Peter Sims contributed 109 to Lowestoft's 232 for seven, while Rob Porter top scored with 69 in Acle's 230 for eight reply.

Saham Toney and Mattishall are level on points at the head of Division Two after they both won, respectively by nine wickets against Norwich & Coltishall A and by 106 runs against Hunstanton.

Division Three leaders Sheringham won by nine wickets at Swaffham, where Jez Wright scored 99 and took four for 126.

Duncan Hewitt (71) and Kevin Denmark (53) shared in a 134-run first-wicket partnership as Dereham beat Norwich A by seven wickets to move above inactive Horsford into second place.