Old Buckenham lost to Lowestoft by four wickets in the Frankly Digital Norfolk Alliance Premier Division.Some pitches look like a minefield and winning the toss makes the decision to bat second easy but it can almost backfire.

Old Buckenham lost to Lowestoft by four wickets in the Frankly Digital Norfolk Alliance Premier Division.

Some pitches look like a minefield and winning the toss makes the decision to bat second easy but it can almost backfire.

This was true when Lowestoft invited Old Buckenham to bat on a very dry Attleborough Rec.

Old Bucks lost their high-scoring opener Simon Newbery (6) as he followed a rising ball into the hands of first slip.

Matthew Long followed with a poor run out and Robin Thatcher was unlucky that he played Porter onto his stumps off a ball going wide of leg stump. Porter finished 2-9 off six overs and handed the attack to 14-year-old Tirmannaage and Wright, 15.

Tirrimana immediately repaid his captain by having Carl Sturman caught, Joe Perry clean bold and a belligerent Andy Halls (9) also bowled.

At 35 for six Old Buckenham were staring down the barrel of a gun, but Brendan Ledeboer (24) and Mike Banham (14) had other ideas as they added 42 for the seventh wicket in six overs.

Banham played a low ball off the toe of the bat to Udell at slip off Wright who then quickly had both Ledeboer and Gary Hood caught to clean up the innings with 3-30 while Tirimanna finished three for 18.

Bowled out in 22 overs, Old Buckenham asked Lowestoft to bat for 10 overs to allow tea to be prepared and also used an old ball. Results were immediate as Trevor Ledeboer caught opener Udell off the first ball from Carl Sturman. Brendan Ledeboer repeated the act in his first over removing Wood (9) caught by his father.

Ledeboer bowled Skelly (13) and was inches away from a caught and bowled against Larter (26) in the over before tea. Lowestoft were 35 for three off 10 overs.

Mike Banham took over after tea and with Sturman they exerted pressure with Sturman bowling Ellis (9) and Pierpoint (0) while Banham conceded just seven runs off seven overs.

Sturman finished with 3-31, but Larter was the thorn in Old Buck's side as he eased them towards their target before Banham had him stumped by Joe Perry.

It was left to Porter (5 not out) and Du Plessis (12 not out) to see their side home to victory in 27 overs.

That extra wicket before tea could easily have turned this game with runs in the bag often being pivotal.

Old Buckenham A, with a vastly-improved side, entertained Division Four leaders Great Melton in a contest that saw bat dominate ball as 484 runs were scored for just the loss of nine wickets.

But for the second week in a row Melton stuttered to a draw, managing only to reach 90 per cent of the home side's target.

Old Bucks benefited from some sloppy fielding as both Andy Austin (61) and Benn Mann (101) were both dropped on their way to recording fine knocks and had Melton held their chances then the visitors would have probably been chasing 50 or so less runs. As it was the home side set a challenging 253 for three.

In reply, Melton looked comfortable but tight bowling made the chase difficult. Alex Cooper was Melton's main contributor with 81, but when he was out Melton had to scamper 40 runs from the last six overs to reach the 90 per cent total. This was achieved with little alarm but they knew that outright victory should have been theirs if vital catches had been made.