KEITH PEEL Carl Rogers rewrote the record book as Great Witchingham guided their Lovewell Blake Norfolk Cricket Alliance championship challenge back on track. The long-time Premier Division leaders beat Cromer by four wickets to halt a mini-slump of two successive defeats.

KEITH PEEL

Carl Rogers rewrote the record book as Great Witchingham guided their Lovewell Blake Norfolk Cricket Alliance championship challenge back on track. The long-time Premier Division leaders beat Cromer by four wickets to halt a mini-slump of two successive defeats. With three fixtures left, Witchingham are 16 points ahead of Norwich & Coltishall Wanderers, who beat Downham by four wickets to take over second place from North Runcton, losers by 49 runs at Swardeston. That win, with eight balls to spare, takes Swardeston off the bottom, two points behind Topcroft and seven ahead of Beccles, their next two opponents. Topcroft lost to Vauxhall Mallards by six wickets on Saturday, while Beccles had a close encounter losing draw at Old Buckenham.

Rogers, who set a new aggregate benchmark with 1171 runs last summer, took his tally for this season to 1251 with 97 not out at Walcis Park against fourth from bottom Cromer, who have only 10 points more than Beccles.

Alan Kennedy (49) was Withingham's other main scorer as they surpassed Cromer's 206 for seven, to which Chris Carey contributed 66 and Michael Warnes 47.

Ali Ponder (77 not) steered Wanderers to victory after Downham had been bowled out for 157, of which Sam McLeod made 68.

Darin Goodrum hit 51 and brother Barney 46 not out as Swardeston scored 189 for four against depleted Runcton, whose 140-run reply included 55 from Paul Harwood.

Norfolk captain Paul Bradshaw, continuing his comeback from injury, took three for 13 in Mallards' defeat of Topcroft, who were bowled out for 93.

Lawrence DeCoteau scored 60 as Beccles came within two runs of victory at Old Buckenham, where they made 147 for eight in reply to 148 for eight.

John Reynolds (70 not) and Simon Cushing (57) helped Division One leaders Brooke beat Lowestoft by four wickets with five balls to spare.

Lowestoft had made 227 for eight, with Rob Panter taking five for 40 and New Zealander Shannon Dunnett scoring 100 not out, his maiden league century.

Dersingham beat Diss by 15 runs to take second place from Acle, who had a tense losing draw against Norwich, making 293 for seven in reply to 296 for five.

Rob Porter, who hit 125 for Acle, has now scored four half centuries and a century in his last five league games.

Saham Toney's lead in Division Two was cut to eight points when they had a losing draw at Hunstanton while Mattishall had a winning draw against Bradfield.

Skipper Joe Marczewski took five for 24 and scored 46 not out as Division Three leaders Dereham beat Mundford by five wickets to edge four points ahead of Sheringham, who won by 10 wickets against Beccles A.

David King (78) and Mark Spillett (64) guided Sheringham to victory after Beccles had been restricted to 150 for eight, with Evan Tuck taking five for 50.

Downham A went on a 301 for three declared spree in their defeat of Norwich A, with Neil Gromett (103 not) putting on 164 for the second wicket with Tarran TeMoni (101) and 92 for the third with Angus Stuart, who scored 56.