Downham Stow beat Fakenham in final-day decider

Downham Stow are the Norfolk Alliance Premier Champions after beating Fakenham in a great game which enthralled and captivated everyone watching.There was a sense of tension in the air in a winner-take-all encounter between the top two.Having lost the toss, the team was sent into bat on what looked like a typical Downham Stow wicket.It was a great start for Fakenham taking a wicket off the first ball of the match and at 36-2 it seemed their decision to bowl first was justified.However, as has been the case all season, Ben and Finlay Wilcox battled through the tough period and put on a patient 69-run partnership.The dismissal of Ben Wilcox (31) left the side at 105-3, with the game firmly in the balance.Freddy Fairey came in and batted fluently, showing great authority against the spinners and playing lovely shots all over the ground. The pair put on 98 to put the side in a great position at 203-4 and ready to go big in the last 10. Finlay Wilcox was dismissed for a well-made 88. It was an innings perfect for the occasion, as he batted patiently and capitalised on anything loose.Although wickets were lost at regular intervals in the last 10, the batters ensured that the run rate was consistently ticking.Owen Stacey showed everyone what he’s been capable of with the bat when his side needed him. He hit the last two balls for consecutive sixes, meaning the side finished 272-8 and carrying the momentum into the bowling innings.It was clear that the wicket was still a good one for batting and that boundary limitation was going to be crucial to restricting the opposition. Dan Ward and Arthur Wilcox did just that, bowling brilliantly as a partnership.Ward was his miserly best with Wilcox bowling with pace taking the first two wickets. Ward picked up the key wicket of Steve Gray and Owen Stacey bowled brilliantly picking up the wicket of Luke Caswell to leave Fakenham reeling on 58-4.Knowing that a partnership would form at some stage given the good batting wicket, the side was still able to restrict well with Adam Todd doing an outstanding job through the middle.A big moment in the match was Freddy Fairey running Harvey out with a brilliant throw from deep-square-leg.The match was in the balance at 160-5 at drinks. However, the side fought hard and took three quick wickets to all but finish the game off.Arthur Wilcox completed the win in style, clean-bowling the last batter to start the celebrations for the Downham Stow side who have been front-runners the whole season.It capped off a brilliant season from the side, who consistently had contributions from all players throughout.DSCC is kindly sponsored by Hart Farms and the Downham Tandoori.