North Runcton defeat Fakenham in the Norfolk Alliance as Jasper Payne hits maiden century

North Runcton displayed their Norfolk Alliance Premier Division title credentials with victory over Fakenham in a match reduced to 30 overs a side.

The victory sees North Runcton leapfrog their rivals in the league standings.

Sunshine, showers, strong winds, and umpires made both teams wait for perfect conditions for the games to commence.

However, it was all worth waiting as North Runcton on winning the toss batted and scored at a phenomenal rate with Jasper Payne making a maiden Premier League century off 84 balls with eight boundaries and five maximums

It was a remarkable innings bearing in mind play was halted due to another shower after 19 overs.

Payne was ably-assisted by Ben Skipper with 75 not out off 84 balls with five fours.

After Jasper was out bowled by Will Dunger for 109, his brother Alec took over smashing a quick cameo 28 off 11 balls as Runcton

set their visitors a huge of 239-2 total.

The other wicket to fall was that of Michael Crisp bowled by Lloyd Marshall for 1.

Luke Caswell (0-31 off four), Lloyd Marshall (1-37 off six), Inesh Chandrasiri (0-27 off four), David Coyle (0-27 off 6), Will Dunger (1-53 off six) and Oscar Campbell (0-48 off four) were the other Fakenham bowlers.

In reply Fakenham lost Ben Harvey for one, bowled by Kirwin Christoffels.

However, the visitors recovered well with the in-form Steve Gray making a half-century off 44 balls and to keep up with the

required run rate.

On reaching 51 Runcton were indebted to a magnificent diving catch by Joe Gent to dismiss Gray for 51 (7 fours and a six) off the bowling of Jasper Payne.

Caswell joined John Ewart and the pair took the score to 116 with Ewart adjudged leg-before-wicket for 36 off 38 balls off the bowling of Jack Major.

Will Dunger struck 11 before being caught by Mark Skipper off the bowling of Gent, one of two scalps for Gent, who also had Lawrence caught by Christoffels for five.

Wickets were falling around Caswell who, with 38 off 32 balls, was looking capable of guiding the visitors to victory.

However, Lloyd Marshall hit hard and high looking for a six falling short where Lucas Triffitt took an excellent catch at long-on, off Christoffels leaving the visitors on 174-6 after 24 overs.

Christoffels returned the favour the next over with a catch off the bowling of Triffitt to remove Caswell caught for 38 off 32 balls. Aaron Riseborough had a rush of blood and was run-out by Triffitt for six.

Cameos by Inesh Chandrasiri 13 and David Coyle 21 not out took the total to 213-9 to leave Runcton victors by 26 runs.

For the second week running Lucas Triffitt bowled very accurately in a five over spell taking 2-21 in his five overs.

Ben Coote (0-27 off five), Christoffels (2-44 off six), Jasper Payne (1-40 off five), Jack Major (1-46 off five), Gent (2-28 off three).

The match was finally completed at 8.45pm.

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