Hethersett & Tas Valley teams facing crunch games after a poor weekend
Action from Saturday's Norfolk Alliance Premier Division game between Old Buckenham and Fakenham, which ended up being curtailed by rain. Picture: Sonya Duncan - Credit: Sonya Duncan
Hethersett and Tas Valley had a weekend to forget and will be hoping to put it behind them as they face make or break Saturday.
Despite suffering defeats, the first and thirds are both still in promotion hunts in Division Two of the Norfolk Alliance and Division Three Central of the Norfolk League respectively.
The firsts were without key players for the home game against table topping Topcroft and were 147 all out in 41.2 overs. Topcroft took their time to reach the target, finishing on 148-4 from 42.1 overs.
Valley stay in third place but are now 22 points behind second-placed Beccles and just one point ahead of this week's opponents Ashmanhaugh and Barton Wanderers. The outcome of that match will decide which if either of the two teams will be putting in a promotion challenge with just five league matches to go.
Valley Seconds were bowled out for 172 by Stow A with numbers 10 and 11 James Hipperson (32) and Andy Baker (28 not out) proving to be the pick of the Hethersett batsmen. Stow reached 173-6 off 38.3 overs with Dean Parfitt taking 2-19. Bonus points have helped the team to stay 44 points clear of bottom club Mundford with just one going down. This weekwnd Valley are home to Bircham.
Valley Thirds went down to top side Mellis and are now 23 points adrift of the promotion spots with a make-or-break visit to second placed Wensum this Saturday. Against Mellis, Hethersett scored 187-8 with Rob Jones hitting 43 and Ross Jones 39 not out. Mellis had no problem reaching their target with 189-2 from 38.2 overs.
Valley Fourths' match against Old Buckenham was abandoned due to rain. Buckenham hit 240-3 but Valley weren't able to start their reply. This weekend Valley Fourths are home to Swanton Morley.
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Stradbroke suffered a record 239 run defeat against promotion-chasing St Margaerts II in Two Counties Division 9E.
Bolstered by first team regular Paul Allen, the hosts ran up 295-5, Allen helping himself to 177 not out, and not giving a chance until he was past 150.
Encouragingly sticking to their task in the field, the Vikings had no answers, the white flag eventually to be waved with the bat, as they could only muster 56 all out.
Reflecting on a stop start season, in which four of their 11 fixtures have been conceded to them already, at least Stradbroke played some cricket.
