Top two set for title showdown on final day of campaign

Downham Stow and Fakenham face a final-day showdown in the race to win the Norfolk Alliance Premier Division.Just five points separate the two sides going into the final weekend of the season and leaders Downham Stow will be keen to make their home advantage count.It promises to be a titanic final day after Fakenham’s rain-affected win over Norwich last week ensured the title race goes down to the wire.Play between Fakenham and Norwich last Saturday finally got started at 5.30pm and it was agreed the match would be ten overs each.Both sides wanted a result with Fakenham second in the league and Norwich fighting relegation.On a grey evening with light drizzle, Norwich won the toss and put the hosts into bat.Phoenix Sherry started in fine form hitting the first ball of the match for six over long-on out of the ground. The total moved on to 26 when Ben Harvey as bowled by Chris Borret for four. Steve Gray joined Sherry in the middle and he dominated the bowling with an explosive innings of 77 off 28 balls, which included 12 fours and three maximums.With the score on 137 Gray was well caught at deep mid-off by Ross McNeilly off the bowling of James Bridges.The partnership for the second wicket was 111. Will Dunger soon followed and Fakenham ended on 142-3 from their 10 overs.Sherry’s fine innings of 52 not out included 3 four and three maximums off 25 balls. In reply, Norwich got off to a great start with an opening stand of 53.The introduction of Harry Todd to the bowling attack soon changed that. In his first over the hard-hitting Borrett was superbly stumped by Gray for 17, which included two sixes.in the same over Jack Livermore was bowled by Todd for 0 before dangerman Frankie Sutton, caught by Benjamin Berridge, followed in the same over.The match was in the balance with Norwich on 54-3 and a partnership of 33 for the fourth wicket ended when Bridges was well caught by Luke Caswell at mid-on off the bowling of Liam Riseborough for 11.Elliott Fox soon followed, caught and bowled by Caswell for 24 and the total was now 90 5. The return of Todd to the bowling attack saw Harry Nunn bowled for two and Jason Blake bowled for 10.Fakenham’s Todd finished with the amazing figures of 5 for 4 from just two overs.Match sponsor: Bruce Towers & Sons Ltd.Matchball sponsor: Ambience Renewables and Renovations Ltd.Match umpires: Chris Palmer and Bob Johnson.