Downham Stow top table after opening three games

Downham Stow skipper Pat Yates is keeping his feet firmly on the ground – despite his side’s incredible start to the East Anglian Premier League season.A commanding batting display from Benjamin Wilcox, followed by a devastating spell from Sachindu Colombage, propelled Downham Stow to a comprehensive 134-run victory at Swardeston in a one-sided contest.The win leaves the club top of the table with three wins from as many games.Yates said: “We’re delighted with the start to EAPL life and to sit top after three games is more than we could have hoped for.”We are not getting carried away and have a tough test at home against also unbeaten Sudbury, on Saturday.”After an early blow with Hudson De Lucchi falling for a duck off just the second ball, the innings was revived by Finlay Wilcox (77 off 86) and Benjamin Wilcox (129 off 149), who constructed a mammoth 141-run partnership.While Finlay played the anchor role with measured strokeplay, Benjamin was the aggressor, smashing 16 boundaries in a superb century. Despite a mid-innings wobble that saw four wickets fall for just 24 runs, the lower-order, aided by a few late hits from Brett Stolworthy (five not out) and Addam Todd (five not out off two), pushed the total to a solid 257 for 9 in 50 overs. In reply, the chase began disastrously for Swardeston with three wickets falling inside five overs for just 24 runs.Peter Lambert (46 off 34) and Ben France (30 off 22) briefly reignited hopes with some counter-attacking shots, but once they fell, the innings unravelled quickly.Sachindu Colombage was the standout, tearing through the middle order to claim 4 wickets for 18 runs, while Brett Stolworthy and Arthur Wilcox chipped in with three and two wickets respectively.The opposition folded for just 123 in 21 overs.Bloomsbury Care Home Player of the Match: Benjamin Wilcox.