A disappointing batting performance by Great Melton A left them narrowly defeated by a young and, in all truth, inferior Diss A side.Asked to bat on a slow wicket offering help to the home attack, Melton started steadily, with Matt Clarke moved up to open with Lee Whiddett.

A disappointing batting performance by Great Melton A left them narrowly defeated by a young and, in all truth, inferior Diss A side.

Asked to bat on a slow wicket offering help to the home attack, Melton started steadily, with Matt Clarke moved up to open with Lee Whiddett.

The vice-captain was first to go, playing an ugly shot to mid-wicket and was bowled. Phil Lachowycz didn't last long, again bowled by West for three, but Josh Wilson helped Melton recover to 81 for two off 24 overs when drinks were taken.

This looked a decent platform and a total of around 170 looked attainable and competitive. Having built a patient 24 off as many overs, Clarke, who had survived one chance already, departed in the next over.

Wilson continued to punish the loose ball but when he was next out for 25, it sparked a collapse from which Melton never recovered. Melton's big-hitting middle order didn't fire as required, with Dorling (16) well caught by bowler Tebble, Alborough (5) bowled playing all round an off-break, and Stearman (7) then running himself out.

Bettridge couldn't mark his return to his boyhood ground with a run and Elliott (14) managed to scrape together a few more runs to avoid handing Diss extra overs, with Coulson (1) and McCurley (0), a score of 139 all out in the final over was short of par.

Melton set about defending their score, with Bettridge conceding just nine runs from his opening eight overs, backed up by Coulson.

It was change bowlers Stearman, with three wickets and Wilson, in off-spin mode, who started making inroads, leaving Diss at 62 for four at the halfway point. Tebble played a positive innings but when he holed out to Lachowycz at mid-on for the game's top score of 31, Melton were well in the hunt.

Diss skipper David Williman kept one door shut, but at the other end Melton kept chipping away. Pask was well caught at deep square leg by Alborough to give Bettridge one wicket when he deserved several more.

Wilson bagged two more with a beautifully flighted delivery deceiving Dungar and dismissing Allen, caught by Stearman. It was left to West with the first ball of the penultimate over to seal the win for Diss, launching Wilson over the fence.

Melton A need to have more top-order batsmen making fifties and establishing partnerships to ensure that they have a successful August.