Dominant Downham Stow continue winning streak

Downham Stow delivered a dominant display as they continued their winning streak with a complete performance against Bradfield.The tone was set with dark clouds around and captain Pat Yates choosing to bowl.The decision was justified with the opening pair of Dan Ward and Jamie Cook bowling spectacularly.Ward weaved his magic to finish with a well-deserved 5 for 41 of his 10, justifying all the hard work that he’s been putting in.His opening partner Jamie Cook bowled with control and great skill to finish with 3 for 25 (10).Cook was unlucky to not finish with more wickets, with regular plays and misses.Both bowlers bowled unchanged for the second time this season. Adam Todd (2 for 17) cleaned up the tail as the side bowled Bradfield out for 106, with some strong lower-order batting lifting their total. Freddy Fairey and Finlay Wilcox put to bed any nerves when chasing a low total.Fairey displayed a wide array of shots early and got the team off to an absolute flyer, with a maximum over long-on easily the shot of the day.Wilcox (51 not out off 52 balls) played his role superbly and was savage on anything short. Both batted with positive intent and chased the total down in 13.3 overs, with Fairey finishing on 50 off 32 balls and Wilcox getting his 50 and hitting the winning runs on the same ball to cap a superb day out for the home side.The team is looking to carry on the momentum against local rivals North Runcton this weekend. Fakenham 205-7 beatNorth Runcton 202-4 by 3 wicketsNorth Runcton suffered defeat against Fakenham at Highfield Lawn in a game they could have won.In a match reduced to 45 overs, Runcton won the toss and batted, a justified decision with Ben Skipper and Kirwin Christoffels providing an opening partnership of 86.Hayden Lough, 15, removed Christoffels caught-behind for 40 despite the umpire signalling a wide, the batsman walked as he knew he had nicked it. Ben Skipper continued his recent good form, going on to make 81 with seven boundaries and a six.Lough also claimed his wicket, caught in the deep by John Ewart.Mark, his brother, made 15 stumped by Steve Gray.After a careful start, Jacob Lockheart made 32 not out and Alexander Payne with a quickfire 13 took the score to 202-4. Lough took 2-38 from nine overs and was the pick of the home bowlers, Caswell 1-33 off nine, and Lloyd Marshall 1-26 off seven.In reply, Fakenham lost Ben Harvey brilliantly caught one-handed at slip by Ben Coote.The home team pairing of Steve Gray, who survived convincing appeals for caught behind, and John Ewart guided the home side to a respectable 94-1 off 23 overs at the drinks break.After the break, Ben Skipper was introduced and despite a wayward opening over costing 14, he claimed the wicket of Ewart, caught by Coote for 23, in the same over. Caswell didn’t last long with Lucas Triffitt trapping him leg-before-wicket cheaply, quickly followed the wicket of Gray for 58, this time bowled by Skipper.Read was then caught and bowled by Skipper leaving Fakenham at 123-5.Harry Bammant 21, and Aaron Riseborough 19 took the score to 173-6.The latter was a wicket for Joe Gent while Bammant was caught behind by Jack Hazel. Lloyd Marshall (12 not out) and Oscar Campbell (9 not out) saw the home side win off the final ball of the 43rd over.The bowling analysis for Runcton was Coote 8-2-20-0, Christoffels 8-0-36-2, Triffitt 8-1-30-1, Gent 8-0-50-1, and Ben Skipper 7-0-45-3, whose good all-round game earned him man-of-the-match for the visitors.Barsham Brewery Man of the Match: Steve Gray.Match sponsor: Colin Marshall and Son Ltd. Matchball sponsor: Countywide Joinery Ltd.Umpires: Peter Sadler and Andy Turner.