Great Melton got their season up and running at the third attempt with a five-wicket win at Great Witchingham.Invited to bowl first on a damp-looking wicket, skipper Simon Woods felt that it might have been a good toss to lose.

Great Melton got their season up and running at the third attempt with a five-wicket win at Great Witchingham.

Invited to bowl first on a damp-looking wicket, skipper Simon Woods felt that it might have been a good toss to lose.

David Bunn made early inroads, having opener Dacre caught behind and Melton also enjoyed a little good fortune when the dangerous Gurney had to retire hurt soon after.

Bunn continued to bowl a testing spell and removed Aktinson and Baker in quick succession.

Melton, with Neil Hubbard and Mark Scott bowling well in support, continued to take wickets at regular intervals and at the start of the 40th over the home team were struggling on 109-8.

With Gurney back with a runner, Cameron Black unleashed a ferocious assault on Scott and Devlin, and added the bulk of 60 runs scored in five overs, until Devlin finished the innings with the last ball of the 44th over, making it three wickets apiece for himself, Hubbard and David Bunn.

Melton's reply began solidly, with openers Richard Wood and Jason Whiddett putting on 50 for the first wicket. After Whiddett was removed by Hale, Martin Bunn and Matt Clarke quickly perished and the scoring slowed measurably.

Melton were making life difficult for themselves in pursuit of a moderate total and, with batting difficult on a tricky pitch, the match appeared to be slipping away from them.

With the light also fading, Alex Cooper and Mark Scott tried in vain to hit much-needed boundaries, leaving 40 required from the last four overs.

David Bunn joined Scott at the crease. Fourteen runs were needed off the last over. Scott struck the first two balls of the final over for six back over the bowler's head and victory was secured with two balls to spare with Bunn scampering home.

Great Melton A made it three wins out of three as they recovered from a rocky start to beat a competitive Mattishall A side by 21 runs.

Mattishall decided to bowl first and they quickly rattled through the top order. Alborough (12), Whiting (5), who was unfortunate to be caught down the leg-side, and Cook (1) went went with just 25 on the board.

Lee Whiddett helped repair the damage with 19, but he too departed with the score only just past 50.

The stand of 92 between Chris Elliott (60) and Marcus Godbold (42), provided exactly half of Melton's total score. Godbold's knock was a mature one, featuring some crisply-timed boundaries, while Elliott moved past 8,000 runs for the club during his innings. Once these two departed, Paul Stearman's 13 was ended with a boundary catch.

Mattishall started positively, with 20 coming in the first three overs before Ian Bettridge broke through, thanks to a good catch from Whiddett.

Duncan Osborne was rewarded for some excellent bowling with the wicket of the other opener before Gosling (40) and Brown (33) put on a solid stand. A fine spell from Jamie Smith (1-29) and the crucial wicket of Brown for Stearman helped push the run rate up. Osborne accounted for Kevin Bingham. Ian Bettridge (2-35) removed Gosling, and Melton closed out the game.

Unavailability and a late call-off meant that a depleted 10-man Melton side made the long journey to Stow in the league.

By contrast, making his debut for Stow was Zimbabwe international bowler Blessing Mahwire.

Against this adversity it was a creditable display by Melton, who ran their hosts close and Stow only got home with seven balls to spare.

Lee Whiddett (45) and Matt Clarke (87) built the key stand of the Melton innings, putting on 130 for the second wicket. Both players batted well and with a quick 15no from Scott Andrews at the end Melton made a competitive total of 192-4.

Henry Wanchoo (1-25) sent Mahwire back, bowled for just one, and and gave Melton a chance of applying pressure.

Leo De Salis (1-27) bowled well and took the wicket of D Ward for 5, stumped excellently by Steve Clarke, but Landymore saw the hosts home.