A Great Melton side missing several senior players gave a good account of themselves, but came up just short against a good Old Buckenham side.Melton openers Matt Clarke and Alex Cooper got off to a quick start until Clarke was adjudged lbw to Das.

A Great Melton side missing several senior players gave a good account of themselves, but came up just short against a good Old Buckenham side.

Melton openers Matt Clarke and Alex Cooper got off to a quick start until Clarke was adjudged lbw to Das.

Cooper was bowled by a beauty from Das two overs later with the score on 40. Martin Bunn looked in good touch until he was cleverly undone by Craig Savage for 23. When Mark Scott fell in the 23rd over with the score on 80, Melton looked like they would struggle to make 150. Marcus Godbold, with father Daryl, set about rebuilding the innings, compiling a 50 partnership. Godbold Senior went for 21 and Scott Andrews for a duck, but Marcus began to play his shots until he became Savage's third victim, 41.

Simon Woods and Nathan Devlin ran the ball around to add 46 from the last five overs, edging the score up to 198-7. Craig Savage took 3-24.

Mark Dunnett and John Lund got the home team off to a solid start in reply.

Alex Cooper pulled off a fine diving catch to remove Dunnett. Das unleashed a series of powerful shots but chipped a catch to Daryl Godbold off the bowling of Hubbard for only 21.

J Savage went for a duck and Melton were back in the game. Lund and Bailey continued to score well, adding 66 for the fourth wicket, but both were given a lifeline, with Melton dropping two catches. Bailey went with 30 still required, but Lund stood firm, and although Melton finally removed him for 75, the home team saw themselves home in the 44th over with four wickets spare. Duncan Osborne, 16, made his first team debut, taking 1-46.

Melton B beat Hales A by 10 runs. Defending 158, Henry Wanchoo took

4-20 including three wickets in the final over, and Ireland 3-53 from 12 overs apiece to see Melton home by 10 runs. Earlier Jon Moxon had scored a half-century and Daniel Malcolm 21 in a Melton total of 158-9.

Melton C beat Old Catton B by 39 runs. Chris Uden scored 71no and took 3-30. They also beat Hingham A by five wickets in a friendly.

A third consecutive victory in the Sunday League helped Melton to surge from the relegation places into second, beating Hethersett by 30 runs.

Matt Clarke (62) and Lee Whiddett (44) and Alex Cooper 44no in 214-6. Scott Andrews took 2-3 and Hethersett closed on 184-8.