Diss Cricket Club off the mark in 2021 with comfortable away victory

After back-to-back cancellations, Diss (219) returned to action with a 119-run victory at Acle (100) on Saturday.

Having been put into bat on a damp track, the Diss innings got off to the worst possible start as Mark Williamson was caught behind in the second over off the bowling of Dan Hastings for 2.

However, fellow opener Mark Brawn was joined by David Tooke at the crease and the pair began to steady the ship. The runs started flowing readily and Tooke in particular was despatching the Acle bowling to all parts as Diss moved onto 79-1 after 15 overs.

The score had progressed to 99 when Tooke was caught behind for a well-made 59, which included 10 fours and came from just 57 balls.

Brawns’ new partner was overseas recruit Kadeem Alleyne and he wasted no time in getting off the mark in Diss colours as he hit Porter over extra cover for four off just his second ball.

Brawn was now finding an extra gear of his own, as he delivered boundaries in consecutive overs as Diss kept up the momentum. But when he tried to increase the run rate further, he was caught at mid-on for 35 off the bowling of Shaun Roberts. This allowed Robert Tooke, off the back of his incredible 117 not out three weeks ago, to join Alleyne at the crease with 20 overs left in the innings.

Alleyne began taking the attack to the Acle bowlers, hitting Roberts for a huge 6 over extra cover, but three overs later he was caught on the fence going for another big shot. He ended with 29 from 25 balls on his Diss debut, leaving the visitors 144-4 in the 27th over.

Tooke and new man Jordon Warren were left to resume Diss’ progress in the remaining overs, Warren in particular hitting stride immediately, finding the boundary with a towering six off the bowling of Geoff Handley.

Tooke, on the other hand, was uncharacteristically struggling for timing and was out in tame fashion when he was caught at mid-on for 15.

Skipper Lewis Taylor (21) and Warren (30) both hit sixes in back-to-back overs as Diss were accelerating towards what looked an above par total. However, after both fell in quick succession, Diss were still 15 runs short of maximum batting points with five overs left.

Two calamitous run outs saw the end of Sam Hunt for 0 and Chris Eagle for 1 and when Dan Taylor chipped one back to Hastings to take a simple catch off his own bowling, Diss were all out for a more than respectable 219 in the penultimate over.

Debutant Alleyne was given the new ball and looked threatening from the off, creating problems for the Acle openers. It was fellow opening bowler Dan Taylor who made the breakthrough as Handley was caught by Brawn at backward point.

Acle had made a good start to their reply after that with seven overs bowled they were 41-1. At this point Diss skipper Lewis Taylor realised a change was required and introduced Williamson into the attack.

Williamson would go on to produce a man-of-the-match performance of 4-15 from his spell of nine overs, getting the crucial wicket of Acle captain Tom Wilson in the process of a fine spell.

Rob Tooke would bowl in tandem with Williamson and he also kept the pressure on the Acle batsmen with a fine spell of his own (9-3-13-2), including a perfect off-break to bowl Acle batsman Craig Press.

Eagle also contributed with a brilliant run out in the field and Alleyne would get his first Diss wicket which then left Jody Sparrow to pick up the final wicket of the innings, Sam Hunt taking a smart catch in the process.

Having chalked up their first win of the season, Diss will aim to build on that on Saturday when Brooke visit Rectory Meadow (12pm).