Downham Stow 4th up to second after victory over Bircham 2nd

Downham Stow 4th climbed to second in Division Four West of the Norfolk Cricket League with a comprehensive eight-wicket win at home to Bircham 2nd on Saturday.The visitors were asked to bat and made a good start, putting on 55 for the first wicket before Alex Marsh went for 20, caught by Joe Allen off the bowling of Oliver Cooper.Chris Smith (14) came in and helped the score to 65 before other opener Dean Studd went for 23, but at 73-2 a good total still seemed on the cards.However, three wickets then fell for two runs and the visitors never really recovered, ending on 116-9 from their 35 overs. Bryan Head scored 13 and Mitchell Palmer 10.Pick of the bowlers was Oliver Cooper with 3-17 from seven, followed closely by Hayden Page-Heyes with 3-18 from eight. John Williams took 2-18 from eight and Alexander Easter 1-29 from eight.In reply, openers Sam Sharp and Andrew Knott put on 80 for the first wicket, Sharp scoring 57 from 46 balls, with nine fours and a six before being trapped LBW by Palmer.Knott was 35 not out from 35 balls and Joe Allen scored 11 as Downham Stow raced to 117-2 from 16.2 overs. Palmer took 1-57 from seven and Eddie Marsh 1-19 from four.Felthorpe moved top of Division 1 West, following a 19 19-runn at Snettisham. Sam Kassulke (53) and his father, Paul (30) helped the visitors to 155 for 8, Harry Knott taking 4-28. In reply, Lloyd Osbourne hit 58 while Vishal Gaikwad’s 3-15 saw Felthorpe home. Castle Rising stay bottom after being shot out for 52 by Drayton, Ajay Jadhav (3-9), Rob Edwards (3-13) and Karthik Sankar (3-24) doing the damage. Ben Wall cracked 67 not out as Beeston edged out Brisley & Noth Elham in a 25-over game, Oli Hall replying with 34 for the hosts.Division 2 West saw New Buckenham miss the chance to go top, despite 4-10 from Jason Winser and 27 from Rich Halfacree, as Hockwold won thanks to Ryan Saunders (41), Dale Billman (33), Archibald Stannard (5-17) and Jude Sheldrake (4-32). Fakenham thrashed Garboldisham thanks to Shane Fisher (3-13) and 42* from Paul Lough.In Division 3 West, Gooderstone went top as they prevailed in the only game played. Glenn Fossey hit 56 and Ady Seymour took 5-9 as they easily beat Castle Rising despite 4-17 from Aji Joseph.The other game in Division 4 West saw Mundford edged out Beeston by three wickets, despite George Bridges’ efforts (52 & 4-24), Martin Cornish hitting 46 to see them home. Elsewhere, Thornham were 55-0 off 11 when the rains came, Andy Arnold stranded on 35*.Got a sports story? Email greg.plummer@iliffepublishing.co.uk