Bradenham Bears beat Fakenham Lancastrians by seven wickets in the Junior U17 Carter Cup competition.

The Bradenham Bears got their junior cup campaign off to a winning start against their visitors.

The Bears, beaten finalists last season, fielded a much younger side this time, including several of the club's promising under-15 players.

Fakenham batted first against the accurate opening attack of Will Dewing and Lewis Bates.

Danger man Will Dunger was quickly got into his stride against the change bowlers. But Thomas Donnelly picked up the prized wicket of Dunger for 32 and finished with 2-37 from his six overs.

Useful middle-order contributions from Harrison Futter (21) and Lloyd Marshall (22) kept the scoreboard ticking over, helped by a succession of wides – which in this competition count as two runs.

Wickets continued to fall as the total passed 100, and with a maximum 36 overs at their disposal, Fakenham finally succumbed in the 33rd for 139.

Will Dewing was the pick of the bowlers with 2-7 from 5.4 overs and there were also wickets for Jordan Cantwell, Lewis Denmark, Robbie Clarke and Josh Brown.

With only nine fielders at their disposal, it was always going to be a difficult total to defend, although the Fakenham attack comprised several bowlers who have represented the county at various age-groups.

Nevertheless, Lewis Denmark quickly got into his stride, and together with Andy Wilton added 54 for the first wicket before Wilton was bowled by the impressive Yin Lo, who conceded just 21 runs in his six overs.

Denmark maintained the momentum despite the loss of Thomas Christian (4) and Nick Hook (3).

He and Lewis Bates cruised past the target with 10 overs remaining – Bates finished 25 not out and Denmark 80 not out. Harrison Futter also bowled an economical spell of four overs, taking 1-12. The Fakenham team never gave up.

The Bears now look forward to their next group match against local rivals Dereham on June 27.

Fakenham: W Dunger c Cantwell Donnelley 32, J Seed c-b Donnelley 8, J Wells b Denmark 4, H Futter c Dewing b Cantwell 21, L Marshall c-b R Clarke 22, T Hill c Denmark b Brown 13, Y Lo b Dewing 3, B Yarham c Cantwell b Dewing 0, J Timmins not out 1; extras 35. Total 139-8. Bowling: W Dewing 5.4-3-7-2, L Bates 4.0-1-10-0, T Donnelley 6.0-1-37-2, J Cantwell 3.1-0-28-1, L Denmark 6.0-1-18-1, R Clarke 5.0-0-24-1, J Brown 2.4-0-14-1.

Bradenham: L Denmark not out 80, A Wilton b Lo 15, T Christian run out 4, N Hook b Futter 3, L Bates not out 25; extras 13. Total 140-3. Bowling: W Dunger 5.0-0-36-0, B Yarham 3.0-0-21-0, Y Lo 6.0-0-21-1, L Marshall 4.0-1-19-0, H Futter 4.0-0-12-1, T Hill 3.0-0-18-0, J Timmins 2.2-0-12-0.