Draw lifts Hethersett up table

HETHERSETT and Tas Valley were frustrated by some obdurate batting as Kirkley and Lowestoft Railway held on for a draw in their Norfolk Alliance Division Three encounter.

The draw lifts Hethersett up to third place in the league, just 15 points behind leaders Horsford A and with a game in hand.

This Saturday the firsts visit Swaffham, the seconds are home to Rocklands and the thirds visit their Acle counterparts.

On Sunday Hethersett and Tas Valley visit Acle in the quarter-finals of the Norfolk Cricket Officials Plate competition.

Hethersett looked on target for another victory with visitors Kirkley well behind their target and losing wickets at regular intervals, only for number seven Jamie Ayers and number nine Chris Lambert to dig in to salvage the draw.

Hethersett and Tas Valley batted first and openers Carl Puttock (31) and Tim Shelley (44) gave them an excellent basis for in-form Nick Burrett to blast an unbeaten 101 in a total of 240-7 from their 46 overs.

Kirkley never looked likely to reach their target but managed to hang on for a total of 197-7 with Paul Reeve taking

3-38 and Julian Emeny 2-26.

Hethersett and Tas Valley Seconds beat their Diss counterparts by three wickets.

Diss were restricted to 141 all out with the wickets being shared between Jack Smith (2-36), Phil Walmsley (1-20), Dave Austin (2-39), Rob Scott (2-21) and Shaun Barker (3-24).

Hethersett struggled at times but managed to reach 144-7 with nine balls remaining. Major contributions came from Stephen Hayes (36) and Jack Smith (39).

The win takes them up to third place in Norfolk Alliance Division Five.

Hethersett &Tas Valley Thirds made it an overall good day for the club by beating Great Melton Fourths by a massive 150 runs.

Hethersett scored 280-3 thanks mainly to a fine 145 from Mark Worley and 60 from Ross Jones.

They bowled the opposition out for 130 with John Nash taking 5-27 from eight overs.