Bowler Simon Cooper quelled any lingering doubts about Diss finishing outside the top two of the Lovewell Blake Norfolk Alliance Division One, by taking the first two wickets against Sprowston on Saturday, sparking celebrations at Rectory Meadow.

The two wickets gave Diss the point they needed to secure elevation but they finished off the job in style, restricting the visitors to 152-9, before hitting 153-4 to claim victory by six wickets.

"It is really good to win promotion," said captain Dave Tooke.

"We knew we needed two wickets to make it definite and when we got them we were all ecstatic out in the middle. I am really proud of the boys and now want us to stay up and establish Diss as the Premier Division team it should be."

Diss have far exceeded their own expectations this season, not least because they have achieved promotion without an overseas player. They were were one of only a handful of teams without an import, in a division where champions Brooke's Australian batsman Vinay Parikh scored more than 1,000 runs in their campaign.

In contrast Diss have relied on their promising youngsters, such as James Wilby and brothers Simon and Chris Cooper, with the Rectory Meadow-based club's oldest players Tooke's father Mike, 53, and brother Rob, 25.

Tooke, 23, said: "Everyone has come through the club's youth set-up and it means we have a really good team spirit.

"At the start of the season, the best we were hoping for was a good cup run and to finish in the middle of the league. But when it got to halfway through the season and we had lost only one game, we started to think we might be able to get promotion."

The last time Diss were in the Premier Division, in 2004, they were relegated without winning a game, after just one season back in the top flight. Tooke is confident his team will fare better this time but does expect the club to explore ways in which they can bring in an overseas bowler for next season.

Swapping places with Diss next season will be Old Buckenham who were relegated from the Premier Division after a six-wicket defeat at home to Swardeston.