A devastating bowling performance from Jack Whatmough inspired Martham to move ahead of the chasing pack in Division One.

The hosts could only post 166 against Great Yarmouth but it didn't matter as Whatmough's 5-16 cut through the visitors' line-up as they finished 51 runs short. Belton's Tom Knight also bagged a fifer (5-35) as Belton beat Ketteringham Hall by 83 runs to move two points off Yarmouth in second.

Shab Caim went one better for Cringleford Lodge taking 6-15 as his troops won by 50 runs against early-season basement boys East Harling.

In Division Two, Matt Evans struck 51 as Sprowston B beat Hardingham A in a battle between two sides at opposite ends of the table. Felthorpe bowlers Marcus Leak (3-13) and Tom Gill (3-32) ensured their team kept on Sprowston's heels at the top by shining in a six-wicket victory against Caister.

Teenage talent Alex Codd, aged 16, enjoyed a day to remember as he smashed his first maiden century for Bungay A in Division Three. He, 106 not out, and Tim Porter's unbeaten 70 helped their team to an emphatic 10-wicket mauling of Hales & Loddon A. With the ball, Dave Pollard was the man to watch as his 6-19 ripped through Eaton's batters in Costessey's same-margin triumph.

Tons from Danny Tipple and Joe Hollis, plus a maiden five-wicket haul for 15-year-old Ollie Oberny saw Reepham & Salle to a fourth win of the season against Winterton B. That kept R&S top of Division Four and 19 points ahead of their nearest challengers.

Following their last-ball defeat last week to Reepham, North Elmham bounced back to remain in second by crushing Colney. A nine-wicket success was enough to claim maximum points and strengthen their position in the standings. Grant King took 4-31 while Stephan Malherbe scored 50.

In Division Five, Hethersett & Tas Valley B continue to set the early pace. The league leaders beat New Buckenham by four wickets with Max Adams taking the same number of victims, for 39 runs, himself. Gillingham's strongest batting performance of the term so far keeps them in second.

A 127-run win against Great Yarmouth was lit up by man of the match Kevin Springall's outstanding century. He became the first player from the club to hit a ton in a couple of campaigns.

Brisley, in Division Six, were another club that had its bowlers to thank for an emphatic success on Saturday. They hammered Old Buckenham C by 10 wickets with Steve Kay (5-6) and Adie Greef (4-19) the chief destroyers. They are now 20 points clear of Hardingham B who lost by 111 runs at Ketteringham Hall A. Other star performers in the sixth tier were Acle B's Paul Woods (52) and James Hastings (51 not out) and Garboldisham C's E. Thorn (6-9).

Down in Division Seven it's still neck and neck between Horsford C and Great Ellingham. The former top the early-season standings by a point and won for the fourth match in five, by a margin of 53 runs, against North Elmham A. Ellingham recorded a six-wicket win in a low-scoring encounter against Kirkley & Lowestoft Railway A.

In the bottom-flight, Beeston's hopes of strengthening their title push suffered a blow as they could only post 59 in a 40-run loss against Southwold. Beeston profited by edging out Great Witchingham B to move four points off the summit.