In a record-breaking batting display, North Runcton stormed to a thumping victory in their latest Norfolk Alliance Premier Division fixture.
Breathtaking centuries from Kirwin Christoffels and Ben Skipper set a solid platform before dismantling the opposition with the ball.
The match was decided on DLS after persistent showers throughout the afternoon.
The tone was set early by openers Christoffels and Skipper, who put on a colossal 229-run stand for the first wicket.
Christoffels was the more aggressive of the pair, blazing his way to 125 off 105 balls, peppered with 8 fours and 6 sixes, at a strike rate of 119.05.
Skipper, in contrast, played a more measured innings, anchoring the side with 122 off 135 deliveries, hitting 11 boundaries and two sixes.
After Christoffels’ dismissal, the run-rate only accelerated. Jasper Payne provided a late surge with a blistering 62 from 37 balls, including 5 fours and 3 sixes.
A rain delay occurred at 41 overs with Runcton well set at 303-1.
The covers were brought on to protect the square, so tea was taken early. The period lost included both time to cover the rain and the tea interval.
The innings resumed after about an hour and with just nine overs remaining the visitors increased the tempo.
Despite a brief middle-order stumble – with three wickets falling for just 23 runs – the lower order added valuable runs.
Jacob Lockheart and Odirile Modimokoane added the finishing touches to an innings bolstered by a generous 47 extras, including 34 wides.
They went on to make 396-6 after their allotted 50 overs.
The bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs, with Addy Forbes (3 for 68) the most successful, albeit expensive.
Every bowler suffered, with none going at under six runs per over except Joe Beadman (1 for 61) and Ben France (1 for 63).
In reply, the opposition crumbled under scoreboard pressure and Christoffels proved just as lethal with the ball.
Ben Coote and Christoffels bowled quickly and accurately, which the host batsmen could not deal with and reduced them to 33-7.
A concerted effort by Ben Shearing and Harry De Couteau-Spring stopped the rot and took the score to 122-7, when more rain arrived and stopped play with the result already secured by DLS.
For Runcton Coote 3-22 off 10 overs, Christoffels 4-30 off 10, Lucas Triffitt 0-8 off four, Michael Annakin 0-16 off five, Odirile Modimokoane 0-18 off seven, and Jasper Payne 0-22 off five.
Whilst North Runcton won at Swardeston, their closest rivals Norwich lost to Acle and Fakenham’s game with Brooke was abandoned, thus strengthening the Runcton lead at the top of the league table.
