HETHERSETT and Tas Valley's unbeaten run continued with a comprehensive victory over Garboldisham in Norfolk Alliance Division Two.

It has catapulted them into second place in Division Two and this week they host Downham.

Hethersett won the toss and elected to bat and were soon struggling with early dismissals, losing their first three wickets cheaply.

A mid-order revival saw the Ellis brothers turn things round. They started slowly but Hethersett's reasonable total of 224 for nine from their 46 overs owed much to their perseverance, with Matt Ellis hitting 58 and Richard Ellis 42. After their dismissal the pace was picked up by Matt Steward (27), Lee King (22), Julian Emeny (11) and Phil Walmsley (15) as Hethersett gave their bowlers a real chance.

One of the team's strong points this year is having strength in depth in both batting and bowling.

Saturday's team batted right down to number 11 and had no fewer than eight front-line bowlers available. Only four were needed, with Garboldisham wasting a solid start to be bowled out for 108 in 30.1 overs to give Hethersett a win by 116 runs — a margin of victory that had looked improbable.

Opening bowlers Walmsley (4-46) and Emeny (3-46) did most of the damage with Steward (2-8) and Mark Gricks (1-7) mopping up the tail.

n H&TV's Carter Cup campaign ended at Mattishall in a game that produced over 600 runs. The game swung back and forth before the hosts snatched victory with over five overs remaining.

H&TV elected to bat and Robbie Matthews and Richard Ellis put on 127 for the first wicket before Ellis was out for 56. Matthews continued to pile on the runs after the lunch interval before being out for a classy 108. H&TV began to pick up the pace, with Matt Ellis hitting 35 and Matt Steward and Lee King putting on a quickfire 47 at the end, blasting a number of sixes. King was out off the last ball of the innings for 29 with Steward on 44no, which included four sixes. H&TV finished on 302 for five.

H&TV looked to be well on top when opening bowler Julian Emeny struck twice in quick succession to reduce Mattishall to five for two. Gordon Chetwood (113) and Jason Cole (94) then came on for a massive partnership of 224. H&TV stuck to their task and two quick wickets saw Mattishall on 291 for six.

Mattishall then steered themselves home to end H&TV's brave challenge. For the visitors Emeny took two for 52 and Jack Smith two for 33.

On Sunday H&TV return to Mid Norfolk Division One action with a home game against Norwich.