North Runcton beat Downham Stow in bizarre fashion

North Runcton picked up their second victory of the campaign by bizarrely beating league leaders Downham Stow by two runs in the Norfolk Alliance Premier Division.The victory was achieved under the Duckworth Lewis rule after rain stopped play.With rain starting to fall, the covers were brought on and then the heavens opened.After a torrential downpour, the match was curtailed by the umpires with the wicket underwater and several puddles on the outfield.At the time of the abandonment, the Runcton par score was 65 and the visitors’ revised target to win was 66.However, at the time of the match being called off Downham Stow were two runs short at 63-3 leaving Runcton Winners by two runs to secure a much-needed victory for the home side after a run of recent defeats.The cricket itself was interesting, North Runcton winning the toss taking the brave decision to bat on a damp wicket. As perhaps they could expect the wicket had some life and Dan Ward (4-33) the visitors opening bowler was on top form taking the wickets of three of the first four batsmen. There were good knocks from opener Jasper Payne (24), Ben Coote (12), Alexander Payne, unluckily stumped off the wicketkeeper’s pads for 34, Harry Lankfer (29), Lucas Triffitt (16), including a powerful ix that saw the ball become wedged in the sight screen, and Jack Hazel (15 not out).For the visitors, Addam Todd weighed in with 2-25, Pranav Susurla 1-25 And Jamie Cook 1-40 as North Runcton made 158- 8.In reply, Downham Stow found Ben Coote bowling in excellent form, dismissing Findlay Wilcox, leg-before-wicket for seven and his brother Norfolk player Ben bowled for two in an opening spell of 6-0-14-2.Jasper Payne (7-3-15-1) claimed the prized wicket of another Norfolk player Freddie Fairey, caught by Lankfer for six Downham Stow was in trouble at 25-3.However, they recovered well with their overseas star Susarla (17 no) and Oliver Ford (23 no) taking the score to 63 before the rain came.