Denver return to winning ways

Denver managed to escape the worst of the Norfolk rain as they picked up a crucial 71-run victory over Old Buckenham in Norfolk Alliance Division Four.The visitors arrived looking to pick up their first win of the season while Denver hoped to return to winning ways after a recent defeat.Old Buckenham won the toss and chose to bowl, looking to take advantage of the favourable conditions.They did just that as they took early wickets, three of the Denver top four with just 33 runs on the board.However, they gave Denver plenty of opportunities to score runs and Paul Morton took full advantage of that, hitting 12 fours as he made 71 to bring Denver back into the game.After Morton fell, Sam Dickerson held the innings together, scoring a steady 31 despite wickets falling around him.Reuben Wright cleared up the Denver tail, taking 4-31 as the hosts were bowled out for 157. It looked like a competitive total, with the bowlers getting plenty of movement under overcast skies and Denver got off to a flying start, reducing the visitors to 6-2.Ben Askew looked to be scoring freely before he chipped a slower ball back to Chris Rolfe as he fell for 25. Rolfe took another wicket in his next over as he returned the figures of 3-21, with Old Bucks struggling at 34-4.Dan Harper bowled a brilliant spell, working in perfect unison with Joe Manning (3-34) as they kept the runs down with wickets continuing to fall. Harper finished his spell with figures of 1-10 from his 9 overs as Old Buckenham collapsed to 65-9.Despite a last-wicket partnership frustrating Denver, they eventually bowled the visitors out for 86, sealing the win by 71 runs and moving up to fourth in the table.Lawtronic LTD Player of the Match: Paul Morton.