Old Bucks defeated by Stow

Old Buckenham (217) were unable to return to winning ways in the Norfolk Cricket Alliance Premier Division on Saturday as they lost by five wickets at home to Stow (221-5).

After stand-in skipper Rob Thurley won the toss and elected to bat first, Old Bucks made a positive start with openers Matt Bint and Ben Shearing at the crease.

The duo reached another 50 partnership in just nine overs – their third partnership of 50 plus in four outings – before Shearing was bowled by Lloyd Richmond for 28 from 29 balls.

That saw Thurley come to the crease and though he initially struggled to score, he eventually found his usual free-scoring style.

Thurley and Bint put on 65 for the second wicket before the latter walked past a delivery from Stow spinner Peter Brassett for 48, making the score 115-2.

After that, wickets started to fall on a more frequent basis with Amith Sarma lasting just two balls for his duck and Thurley following soon after for 28.

Glen Meredith (14) and Tom Bart (28) put up some brave resistance as they looked to steady the innings, but runs were hard to come by before the hosts were eventually dismissed for 217.

Peter Brassett was the pick of the Stow bowlers with figures of 4-21, while Otto Esse was expensive but still effective (3-63).

Old Buckenham got their defence off to the perfect start when Jack Grant had Freddie Fairey trapped lbw for 0 in the first over of the innings.

However, the home team were well aware that the key wicket to get was that of overseas professional Amit Dhadwal, who scored a century against them during the reverse fixture.

And once again he proved to be the difference, putting on 106 for the second wicket alongside Tom High.

The partnership was finally ended when High played a sweep too many and was caught at short fine leg for 35 off the bowling of Joel Meredith.

The Old Buckenham bowler helped himself to a second wicket when Amith Sarma caught Benjamin Wilcox for just 5 to bring the score to 116-3.

Bucks now felt like they had an end to bowl at and as a result they were happy to give Dhadwal a single and seek to pick up wickets at the other end.

This plan was thwarted, though, by George Cook as he added 32 before being caught by Shearing at mid wicket off Meredith.

Dhadwal had passed 50 by this point and as he was dropped by the usually safe hands of Bint at cover, the game was beginning to edge away from the home side.

One more wicket fell, but with Dhadwal remaining defiant, his unbeaten knock of 88 helped Stow to get over the line in 38 overs.

Third-from-bottom Old Buckenham travel to league-leading Downham Town tomorrow (12pm).

l Garboldisham (212-6) recorded their fourth victory of the campaign in 2018, beating North Runcton (200-8) by 12 runs.

Jonny Leech did much of the damage for visiting Garboldisham, hitting 73 runs to set up the win.

Danny Cash’s charges, who are currently placed sixth in the standings, make the short trip to take on out-of-form Diss tomorrow (12pm).

The meeting between the sides earlier in the season was abandoned due to the wet conditions.