Dave Tooke's side now hold a 23-point advantage over Sprowston, with two games to go.

If Diss gain three more points at bottom-of-the-table Beccles tomorrow, than Sprowston do at home to league leaders Brooke, then promotion will be secured.

If they do not, Tooke's men will get another opportunity the following week when they host Sprowston in the final game of the season.

On Saturday, the Stow openers found runs hard to come by against Chris Germon and Steve Dungar.

Dungar made the break through using his height to extract bounce and lift from the pitch to bowl Denny.

Henry Rush carried on his good work for Diss but it was the introduction of the Cooper brothers with three wickets apiece that made inroads into the visitors batting.

Cutworth, Landymore and Zimbabwean Test cricketer Mahwire all reached the 20s but were unable to build on it.

Chris Cooper added a fine run out to his three wickets and Rob Tooke, deputising for Ben Green behind the stumps, had an excellent game as Stow finished 147-8.

In replay, man of the match James Wilby hit a magnificent unbeaten 93 and such was his domination that the next highest score, from Chris Cooper, was 14. In the form of his life he gave a master class on how to face an innings, by waiting for the bad ball and invariably putting it away and not forcing the pace on a slow pitch.

Mahwire bowled manfully with 23 runs coming from his 12 overs but Wilby patiently saw him off and plundered the rest with some eye catching driving, cutting and pulling.

Twelve glorious fours flashed from his bat and when Diss needed to reach 150 for an extra batting point, he finished the match with a breathtaking six over mid-wicket.