The 46th Norfolk Cricket League season got under way on Saturday, and the early joint leaders are promoted teams Castle Rising and St Andrews.

Rising thrashed fellow promoted team Castle Acre by 10 wickets, Ollie Denton hitting 43no after Mahesh Sammaki (3-11) and Usman Chandary (3-15) did the damage with the ball.

Imran Mohammed (75) and Gareth Ward (4-38) led the way for St Andrews against Felthorpe. Happisburgh shrugged off their controversial demotion from the Alliance with a seven-wicket win over local rivals Overstrand, Ryan Sturgess crashing 84no as they recovered from 17-3 to win without further alarm. Promotion favourites Sandringham also won with Jack Melton-Doy (55) and James Banham (71) leading the way with the bat and Chris Smith picking up 4-9. Kirkley & Belton were the other winners in the top flight.

Division Two West saw wins for East Harling, for whom Stuart Hilton took 3-19, Great Ellingham, New Buckenham, Mellis and Reepham & Salle, while in Division Two East, Gillingham got off to a winning start with Jordan Barber helping himself to 59 and taking 4-28, supported by Liam Smith with 54. Michael Burns took 4-34 in vain for Aylsham.

Eaton also started with a win with Michael Barker (89no), Sam Butcher (71) and Luke Billington (3-29) being their stars. Halvergate overcame Southwold despite Ed Fuller's 59, as Ross Saunders hit 68 and Graham Harrop took 4-36.

Division Three West saw the performance of the day, where Martin Wood took 8-30 for Saham Toney A, as they defended their 96 total to beat Thornham by eight runs.

Elsewhere in that division, Sandringham A won thanks to Craig Thurston's 52 and Pat Barret's 58no, while Bircham's Craig Hughes picked up 57no. Beeston's Chris Wood hit 67no and Callum Anderson took 4-27 in their victory.

Batting honours of the day were in Three Central, with Adam Williamson of Mellis crashing 120, Hingham's Steven Guy 107 and Ajesh Jose 81no for Malayees to help their sides to victories. Three East star performers were Peter Sims (90) for Lowestoft B and Chris Alger (5-15) for Rollesby.

Level Four stars were Jak Clark for Bungay A (5-22), Phil Blackford for Beeston A (99), and Lewis Wilkins (5-14) with John Spaxman (4-12) for Bystanders A.