HETHERSETT and Tas Valley returned to winning ways in the Norfolk Alliance Division Three when they became only the second team this season to beat leaders Downham A.

HETHERSETT and Tas Valley returned to winning ways in the Norfolk Alliance Division Three when they became only the second team this season to beat leaders Downham A.

Hethersett put a run of disappointing results behind them to beat Downham by three wickets with just four balls to spare. It ended a run of very disappointing results for the team.

Downham batted first and were restricted to 177 all out in 45.1 overs.

Mark Gricks took 4-33. The target looked a modest one, but Hethersett struggled, losing Richard and Matt Ellis with just six on the board.

Solid middle-order batting pulled the game around with opener Carl Puttock (42) being well backed up by Nick Burrett (34), Tim Shelley (24), Mark Gricks (27) and a crackerjack 18 from

Jack Smith.

All-rounders Dave Cosford and Matt Steward then combined to take Hethersett to 179-7 with Steward hitting the winning runs with a boundary with just four balls remaining.

Hethersett &TV II increased their lead at the top of Division Six with an emphatic eight-wicket win over Mattishall. Their rivals were all out for 121 in 39.1 overs with John Curtis taking 5-40 and Rob Scott 2-16. Hethersett had no problems reaching their target with 126-2 from 22.1 overs with Rob Mitchell unbeaten on 54 and Curtis finishing off a fine all-round match with an unbeaten 30.

Hethersett &TVIII went down to Felthorpe by six wickets in the Norfolk League. They scored 176-9 in their 45 overs with Dale Clarke hitting 59 batting at number eight, Ross Jones scoring 29 and Geoff Chappell 25. Felthorpe replied with 178-4 from 32.3 overs with Joe Brett taking 3-42.