Diss 229-8 Acle 210-6

Chris Cooper was the star man with 3-39 and 34 runs as Diss earned a winning draw at Rectory Meadow on Saturday.

Rob Tooke top-scored with 77.

n In the Norfolk Association Invitation Cup on Sunday, the gulf between the East Anglian Premier League and Norfolk Alliance was shown.

Diss reached 153-6, with Chris Cooper hitting 33 and Ben Spinks an unbeaten 29.

But it was nowhere near enough as Swardeston eased to 157 for the loss of only two wickets.

Division Five

Great Melton A 211-9

Diss A 206-6

Diss A showed more grit and determination with Andy Tebble at the helm of a youthful outfit, gaining a losing draw away at Great Melton A on Saturday.

Diss asked Great Melton to bat first and Robbie West made the breakthrough in the 11th over, comprehensively cleaning up Whiddett's stumps for just eight.

Jody Sparrow and Jack Bell applied the pressure, Sparrow being too hot to handle for Aldborough, who was safely pouched by Tim Courridge at backward point.

Courridge himself (2-37), then bowled a spell of tidy spin, and Great Melton had slumped from 76-2 to 145-7.

Bell was the main architect of the demise, bowling very effectively with a swinging ball to return a splendid 4-25.

At this point Diss were very chipper in the field; however Coulson had other ideas, leathering the ball to all parts of the ground for 34 to swing the pendulum back in Great Melton's favour at tea.

The Diss troops will be disappointed as 49 extras were conceded, however this was no fault of keeper Jamie Allen, who put in a good shift behind the stumps.

In reply, openers Liam Brown and Alex Blakely made a cautious start. Andrews was hardest to get away, not conceding a run in his first five overs.

Many Diss batsmen made starts, but none were able to make a big score.

With 107 needed off the last 14 overs, Tom Catalano and Tim Courridge put on 55 in just eight overs.

Catalano (37 not out) played smart cricket nudging the ball around, while Courridge played the role of the aggressor, smashing 31 off 23 balls including four fours and a six before eventually getting out.

Diss managed to get within touching distance of the target, and will be content to pick up equal points, although on a different day the result could have gone either way.