Quick wickets prove decisive as Downham Stow stay unbeaten

Leaders Downham Stow are the only unbeaten team in the East Anglian Premier League after their three-wicket win over Sudbury on Saturday.The visitors won the toss and didn’t hesitate in batting first on what looked a beautiful pitch backed up by the glorious Norfolk sunshine.But it was a perfect start for Downham with Brett Stolworthy knocking the off stump of Ned Overbury out in the first over. Sudbury looked to have steadied the ship until Stolworthy cleaned up Darren Batch, who was making his 300th appearance for Sudbury.Spin was quickly introduced and Adam Todd struck in his first over, Kenny Moulton-Day falling to a good catch from Finlay Wilcox to leave them 71-3.Overseas star Sachidu Colombage didn’t take long to get amongst the wickets, claiming Sudbury captain Adam Jones for 46.A collection of wickets then fell, Owen Stacey (2-48) got his first and another one for Colombage (2-29) saw the pendulum swing massively in the home side’s favour. Arthur Wilcox got his name amongst the wickets as George Cook took the catch.Some fantastic fielding from Hudson De Lucchi, a direct hit run out, ended Freddie Cloud’s short stay and Matt Clark was quickly back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, bowled by Stolworthy (3-28), as the score had crept to 166-9. A final-wicket partnership of 41 between the returning Alex Quinn, who had earlier retired hurt, and Bobby East took Sudbury’s total to 207 all out.Downham’s chase started in fine fashion with Finlay Wilcox and De-Lucchi putting on 87 for the opening wicket. De Lucchi fell for 30 and Wilcox went in the next over for a third successive half-century-plus score. Ben Wilcox and Freddie Fairey took the score beyond 140 as the hosts looked to seal victory quickly, but they fell in quick succession to leave Downham 155-4.Arthur Wilcox and skipper Pat Yates steadied the ship but Yates went for one sweep too many and was leg before to Ben Reece.Alex Quinn took two wickets in the same over to remove Arthur Wilcox (35) and Owen Stacey for a duck. With one run required, it was left to George Cook to crash the last ball of the 38th over through the covers for four and move his team to the top of the table. Downham Stow 3rds secured a comfortable six-wicket win at Brooke 2nds in Division 3 of the Norfolk Alliance.After winning the toss, Brooke’s innings began cautiously but they soon found trouble as wickets fell at regular intervals. Sam Sharp (2-18) and Alex Easter opened the bowling with tight lines as they set the tone. Albert Hornsby took advantage of a late call-up to pick up 2-11 in six overs.Peter Griffin (2-21) also bagged a brace, and Ashleigh Corbett wrapped up the tail as Brooke made 153 in 42.2 overs. Downham Stow began steadily with the opening partnership of Sharp (15) and Pete Harness (25). Jack Gould was the standout performer, anchoring the innings with an assured and unbeaten 46. He timed his innings perfectly, rotating the strike and dispatching loose deliveries with confidence.Despite a tidy spell from Brooke’s Alistair Shearer (2-31), the target was never out of reach. The visitors reached 155-4 in the 30th over.