North Runcton secured a convincing 74-run victory over Acle in a rain-affected clash on Saturday.
The result was ultimately decided by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method after lightning and heavy rain brought play to a premature end.
Opting to bat first under threatening skies, Runcton made a steady start with openers Kirwin Christoffels and Ben Skipper.
Acle made the early breakthrough in the ninth over when Skipper was bowled by Dan Hastings for 13, with the score at 34-1.
Christoffels, undeterred by the gloomy conditions, was in magnificent touch.
The South African struck a fluent 119 off 121 balls, including 16 boundaries and two sixes, registering his second century in as many weeks.
He combined in a productive 157-run partnership with Jacob Lockheart, who anchored the innings with a composed 56 (87 balls, five fours) before falling to a sharp caught-and-bowled chance by Geoff Handley.
The innings, shortened to 47 overs due to earlier rain, saw an aggressive push from Runcton’s middle order.
Jasper Payne chipped in with a brisk 25 off 18, while Ben Coote provided the fireworks late on with a blistering 40 from just 18 deliveries, clearing the boundary three times and adding three fours.
Handley was the pick of the bowlers for Acle with 4-71, while Muhammad Uzair delivered the most economical spell, finishing with 0-36 from his 10 overs.
Chasing a daunting target of 280, Acle were in immediate trouble.
Odi Modimokoane trapped Jack Buttery leg-before-wicket for one, before Christoffels struck twice in quick succession, removing Josh Wilson for a duck and Craig Press for two.
At 28-3, the visitors were struggling, and things worsened when Handley was clean-bowled by Triffitt for one, the leg stump cartwheeling dramatically.
Rob Porter provided some resistance with a composed unbeaten 32, supported by Sol Blazer (13 not out), but at 61-4 after 20.2 overs, a lightning strike forced the players off the field. Moments later, heavy rain swept in, ensuring no further play was possible.
With Acle well behind the par score set by the DLS method, the umpires had no choice but to declare Runcton winners by a 74-run margin.
