GREAT Ellingham hosted Bunwell in a top-of-the-table clash on Sunday. These two sides usually enjoy a tight contest and Sunday was no different. Bunwell won the toss and elected to bat and got off to a great start.

GREAT Ellingham hosted Bunwell in a top-of-the-table clash on Sunday.

These two sides usually enjoy a tight contest and Sunday was no different.

Bunwell won the toss and elected to bat and got off to a great start. Turner (20) and Parfitt (41) put on 44 for the first wicket. Standley (2-34) who bowled with his usual good control and Dodd (1-25) picked up a couple of quick wickets.

There were useful contributions by Canell (18) and Bradford (11) before Smith ripped through the middle and late order batsmen. From a position of 95-2 Bunwell were dismissed for 129. Smith finished up with figures of 6-9 and bowled tremendously.

It looked an under-par score to defend but Bunwell had other ideas. They were helped by some poor strokes by Ellingham batsmen along with some excellent bowling. Wood (2-25) bowled a tight opening spell. There was a good partnership of 49 between Ewin (19) and Kruger (27) as Ellingham at one stage were 66-2. The change bowlers did the damage, Nicholls (4-29) bowled an excellent spell of off spin including two caught-and-bowled dismissals.

At the other end Robbie (3-28) tempted the batsmen to play ill-advised shots and they duly obliged. The only real resistance of the remaining players came from Dodson (12) and captain Smith (18) who were the not out batsmen at the close.

Bunwell dismissed Ellingham for 121 to win by eight runs. Ellingham will need to vastly improve their batting display when they visit East Harling next week.

Great Ellingham A produced a magnificent display to beat Bunwell A by 144 runs. Ellingham were asked to bat. Wharton (42) and Potter got Ellingham off to a flyer. Mathers (16) then joined Wharton as they took the score to 97-1 off only 14 overs. This stung Bunwell to life as Shaheed (2-40) and Webster (2-34) made some important breakthroughs.

But Oxborough (19) and Stuart (7) steadied the ship before Lawrence (7) and the belligerent Bridges (39no) enjoyed an excellent partnership. Collins-Read returned to take a couple of late wickets (3-30) as Ellingham posted a total of 211-9.

In reply, Bridges (1-20) and Lawrence (2-14) bowled immaculately which created an early run-out also.

There was some resistance from Shaheed (10) and and Dallas (19). Captain Taylor (4-4) then brought himself on with devastating results.

He was well supported by Hawkins (2-6). Bunwell totalled 57.