KEITH PEEL North Runcton kept up their Lovewell Blake Norfolk Alliance championship challenge with the biggest run spree of the season.

KEITH PEEL

North Runcton kept up their Lovewell Blake Norfolk Alliance championship challenge with the biggest run spree of the season.

James Brown hit 156 and Christo de Jager 144 as they amassed 330 for five declared against Swardeston, who were all out for 132 in reply.

Runcton stay second in the table, but are now only eight points behind their next opponents, Great Witchingham, who won by four wickets at Cromer.

Stuart Evans and Carl Rogers both claimed three wickets as Cromer were bowled out for 133, of which Richard Charlwood made 42.

Witchingham skipper Dennis Rogers (36 not) led the reply, while Chris Carey captured three wickets.

Norwich & Coltishall Wanderers stay third in the table despite a one-wicket defeat by Downham Town, who remain fourth.

A stand between brothers Ashleigh (38) and Ric Corbett (31) steered Downham to victory with 11 balls to spare after Wanderers had posted 215 for seven, of which Craig Sweet scored 52.

Old Buckenham, who won by 55 runs at Beccles, are joint fifth with Topcroft, who beat Vauxhall Mallards by two wickets.

“It was an incredible performance to beat a very strong side,” said Topcroft captain David Reeder.

Topcroft's star performer was Rayno Arendse, who scored 84 not out and took three wickets, including that of former Norfolk all-rounder Steve Goldsmith.

Scott Robinson (43) and Wayne Biss (30) were chief contributors to Mallards' 158 for nine total, while Eastern Province paceman Lonwabo Tsubsube (four for 49) and Peter Free (three for 11) were their most successful bowlers.

Khaqan Arsal scored 72 not out as Old Buckenham made 183 before bowling out Beccles for 128, with Robbie Austin and Craig Savage both taking three wickets.

Acle beat Norwich by four wickets to go top of Division One, while Diss are second after a 47-run defeat of Dersingham in which David Tooke scored 75, while Simon Cooper and James Wilby both claimed three wickets.

Brooke beat Lowestoft by four wickets at Denes Oval, with Rob Panter hitting 52 not out, while Saxlingham won by six wickets against Stow.

North Runcton A stay top of Division Two despite a losing draw against Norwich & Coltishall Wanderers A, but are now only four points ahead of Bradfield, who had a winning draw against Mattishall.

Sheringham moved 48 points clear in Division Three with a 136-run defeat of Beccles A in which skipper Jez Wright scored 111 and followed up with six for 13.

Mundford, who beat Dereham by seven wickets, are second, with Horsford third after a seven-wicket win at Swaffham in which Nathan Perry-Warnes scored 49, Tom Vaughan 40 not out and Andy Gardiner 35 not out.