Fakenham cricketers secure a clean sweep of victories

There was a clean sweep of victories for all three Fakenham cricket teams at the weekend.Fakenham first team beat Bradenham by six wickets, while the seconds defeated Dereham by eight runs and the thirds triumphed against Garboldisham thirds by eight wickets.Aaron Riseborough (65) and Harriston Futter (98 not out) shared a third-wicket stand of 123 as Fakenham’s second string posted a competitive 228-3 from their 45 overs at Highfield Lawn.In reply, Liam Riseborough helped himself to 4-31 with the ball as Dereham fell short of their target.The match and matchball sponsor was AOT Engineering Ltd.In the Norfolk Alliance Premier Division, Bradfield posted 243-9 from their 50 overs with John Ewart (3-62), Jack Rowley (2-51) and Luke Caswell (1-33) all among the wickets.Fakenham reached their target with more than eight overs to spare as Steve Gray (90 not out), John Ewart (41) , Andy Lawrence (40 not out), Luke Caswell (35), Will Dunger (22) all contributed with the bat.For the thirds, James Cawston (3-19) and Tilly Freakley (3-26) did the main damage with the ball as Garboldisham were bowled out for 81. An unbeaten half-century from Shane Fisher saw Fakenham home with eight wickets in hand.Norfolk Alliance Premier Hethersett and Tas Valley 152lost to North Runcton 157-4North Runcton picked up another win as they avenged their loss to the same opponents earlier in the season. The home side won the toss and on a hot summer’s day not surprisingly took the option to bat.Indeed, they got off to a bright start with Ian Bryce (16) and Ben France (17) scoring quickly in the initial overs. However, both were victims of Christoffels as they were pinned back at 52-2 off 9.5 overs.After their departure, the home side struggled losing wickets regularly finding themselves in deep trouble at 110-9 after 30 overs, this all thanks to an outstanding all-round bowling performance from Lucas Triffitt taking 5-27 off seven overs. Three of his victims were clean bowled, a caught behind and a leg-before-wicket showed the value of wicket-to-wicket bowling.However, the tail wagged with Tom Worley and Ollie Last taking the score to 152 with a last-wicket partnership of 42.Worley was the last to go caught by Hazel off Coote for 24.Jamie White deserves a mention saving several runs as he chased and stopped the ball travelling to the boundary. Bowlers Ben Coote 2-36, Kirwin Christoffels 2-35 and Jasper Payne 1-6, including a magnificent slip catch by Christoffels high above his head, were the other wicket-takers.Wicketkeeper Jack Hazel weighed in with four catches, two off skiers while Michael Annakin was economical albeit wicketless with 0-34 off his 10 overs.Callum Eke, brought into the attack for spin, was restricted to just two overs 0-7.In reply, the opening pair of Jasper Payne and Kirwin Christoffels put on a very quick half-century partnership of 54 in six overs. Payne was caught behind for 18 while Christoffels, opening the batting for the first time in five weeks, was in magnificent form before he was dismissed for 60 from 73 balls with 9 fours.Sharing an unbeaten stand of 35, Alexander Payne and Jamie White secured the victory.Payne made 35 not out in 21 balls with 4 fours and two sixes that cleared the high fences with balls lost.