After the heartbreaker the week before Yarmouth finally made it win number two on Saturday with a 37 run victory over high flying Caister. The home side were invited to bat first on a baked Beaconsfield wicket and the visitor’s decision immediately appeared a good one as the Sims forced the initial breakthrough with only 12 on the board. Nicholls , looking much more like his usual august self , steadied the ship with Simon Ruddick and the pair guided the home side past 50 , seeing off both opening bowlers in the process. Yarmouth seemed to be starting something before they were brought crashing down to earth with a scream. Hewitt , bowling the 22nd over , claimed the scalps of both batsmen , Ruddick (16) victim of superb catch by Lamming before then five balls later a frustrated Nicholls picked out Sims in the deep. With a bad recent history of batting collapses the sidelines were a little nervous but Derry and Fitzsimmons provided robust resistance. With the confident Derry maintaining the scoring the Yarmouth captain was able to dig in with what appeared an invincible defence only then to be run out. Another quick wicket saw Yarmouth struggling but any fans who had left early fearing the inevitable would have been gone too soon. Those that did stay to keep the faith saw a magical innings from Derry as he worked the ball around and was unlucky not to reach his half century when he was bowled by the returning Johnson for 49. Some lusty blows from Gary Thompson (15) helped see Yarmouth to a reasonable total of 161 before the wily spin of Stokes polished off the tail. The feeling in the changing room was the total maybe 20 runs light but cricket is not a sport where such black or white judgements can easily be made.

Yarmouth took to the field knowing that the early wickets missing from previous weeks were crucial and this time were rewarded. White and Vickers were able to extract bounce from the wicket and immediately caused trouble to both batsmen. White struck first as Stokes (1) gloved behind then followed it up next over when Lamming did the same thing to the safe hands of Nicholls at slip. The Caister captain strode to the wicket and his first few shots gave no hint of the carnage to come. Deciding attack was the best form of defence Sims launched into the bowling with an impressive display of power hitting. Yarmouth knew he was dangerous but the fielding side were increasingly speechless as he effortlessly took his side past 50. Johnson , quiet at the other end , was digging himself in and showing an unbreakable concentration. It took a moment of magic to end the onslaught and it was provided by Simon Ruddick running round the boundary edge before diving full length to complete a wonder catch to send back Sims (35). White (3-35) then claimed his third victim and Caister were 81-4. Myhill gave good support to Johnson as the pendulum began to swing Caister’s way as 36 were added for the fifth wicket. Richie Ruddick got the crucial breakthrough as he bowled Myhill (15). Then Oxborough took two in two balls and then he and Ruddick took one further quick wicket to end the innings. Casiter closed on 124 all out.

Although still bottom Yarmouth are now back in touch with the pack and whatever happens for the rest of the season know they are able to pull themselves up out of the relegation zone with spirited performances like this.

Great Yarmouth travelled to Norwich Union hoping to keep up their run of decent form in Division 4, and put in another solid display with a comfortable 71 run win.
The home skipper won the toss and had no hesitation in asking Yarmouth to bat first, on what looked to be an uneven pitch.
The Yarmouth innings got off to a cautious start with just 12 runs on the board in the 6th over when Hodds was caught behind off the bowling of Andrews(2-35) for 5, J.Doggett and Harvey took the score to 33 before Doggett departed the same way as Hodds for just 1, 28 for 2 became 41 for 3 as Harvey was also caught behind this time off the bowling of Tisshaw(1-27) for 15. Kapila Joined Graham Doggett at the crease and the pair began to get the board moving with some good running and boundary hitting, they added 47 in 10 overs before the curse of the drinks break struck as Doggett was caught and bowled by Bunn (1-40) for 32 to leave the score 88 for 4, Mark Thompson joined Kapila and struggled at first but thankfully Kapila was going well at the other end and the score
moved on to 156 when Kapila was stumped off the bowling of Kitson (2-62) for 55, with Kapila gone Thompson took on the mantle and started in pursuit of 200 smashing anything loose to the boundary, Yarmouth lost Cockrill caught for 2 and Noakes run out for 1 and Ali caught for 1 all perishing trying to give the strike to Thompson who brought up his 50 in the 44th over, with 17 required off the last over for maximum batting points, he cut loose but could only manage 15 as the innings ended on 198 for 8, Thompson 65no.
The Norwich Union innings also started cautiously thanks to good spells from Cockrill(1-19) and Noakes (4-28) Eastwick was first to go caught by Hodds off the bowling of Cockrill for 13, then Noakes struck twice in an over to remove Arnold who was caught behind for 1 and Bunn who played on for 0, the home side were struggling on 18 for 3 in the 7th over. Asker and Johnson tried to repair the damage but Yarmouth were bowling and fielding well, Johnson became Harveys 1st victim when he holed out to Thompson for 9 and he also bowled Asker for 19 to leave the home side 52-5 in the 20th over. The returning Noakes then had Thompson caught by Hodds for 3 and Norman caught by Thompson for 10, and When Ali had Kitson caught by Kapila for 13 the game looked all over at 108 for 8, Tisshaw struck a few lusty blows at the end to try and make the score look a bit more respectable, but it was Harvey(4-30) who finished the game taking the final two wickets to leave Norwich Union all out for 127 giving Yarmouth victory by 71 runs.
BURTON ARMS MOM: Mark Thompson, great acceleration in his innings to set the platform for a good win. Special mention to Jack Noakes and Neil Harvey who took 4 wickets apiece.

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