BRADENHAM came back down to earth after their opening-week win at Sheringham, with a 143-run defeat against top-of-the-table Bradfield in Norfolk Alliance Division One.

BRADENHAM came back down to earth after their opening-week win at Sheringham, with a 143-run defeat against top-of-the-table Bradfield in Norfolk Alliance Division One.

Bradfield were invited to bat first and took full advantage of an outfield like lightening and a hard and fast wicket. Openers Botwright and Register had put on 24. Bates then produced a wonder ball to clean bowl Grapes but then Bradfield dominated.

Botwright (64), Bidewell (48) Wiseman (42) and Yarham (36) all scored quickly towards an imposing 251 for seven. The most successful Bradenham bowler was Blake Whyte with four for 71.

Bradenham's innings never really got going with only Rob Thurley showing any early resistance with a patient 21. The introduction of Yarham proved disastrous for the home side as he followed up his seven-wicket haul from the previous week with six for 15. This included one devastating over where he removed Dewing, Taylor and Blakey in the space of six balls.

Brett Stolworthy and Lewis Denmark batted for almost 20 overs to nearly save the game for Bradenham. Denmark was last man out in the penultimate over for a very mature 30.

BRADENHAM A elected to field at Great Melton. David Hillier and Steve Watts were quickly into their stride with the early wicket of Alborough. Whiddett followed for 20 with the score on 55 brilliantly caught diving to his right at square leg by Matt Clarke, 15, off Hillier for 20.

Great Melton's Clarke survived a number of chances to become the mainstay, hitting 15 fours in a well-deserved 100 before being bowled by the persevering Watts.

Skipper Chris Elliott moved Melton to a score over 200 with some classic stroke play, finishing on 39 not out. Bradenham's fielding became a little ragged but a few late wickets notably from the rejuvenated Hillier meant that the final total of 218-9 was short of a par score. Hillier finished with a well-deserved three for 31, Watts a hard fought four for 67 and debutant Tom Browes one for 30.

Bradenham started very brightly, the aggression of Ian Gibb in tandem with the more circumspect junior partner Marcus Evans moving smoothly past 35. A huge appeal for caught behind was turned down and the tone of the game changed.

Melton lost their composure, and with Gibb and Evans hitting the ball very cleanly Bradenham scored quickly and freely. Gibb fell for a typically belligerent 48, with seven fours and two sixes, with the score on 82 in the 13th over.

Skipper Ian Moody joined Evans and the pair put on an unbeaten 137 for the second wicket with 16-year-old Evans scoring an classy and hugely well-deserved maiden hundred, his beautifully-crafted innings included 20 fours.

The target was reached with nearly nine overs remaining, Moody finishing unbeaten with a chanceless 49. Next opponents Rocklands will provide another stiff test.

For the second week running the club record for the second wicket Sunday League partnership was broken.

Andrew Wilton, 15, opening for the first time on a Sunday, and Rob Thurley put on 111 in a Bradenham total of 234 against Terrington St Clement in a Derek Cousins Division Two encounter.

Thurley wasted little time in a demonstration of free-scoring stroke play, eventually falling for 68. Wilton had survived a couple of early scares as he and Steve Matthews (51) put on 90 for the first wicket.

The visitors, despite being three down for 40, they were well ahead of the run rate at the halfway stage. The introduction of Brett Stolworthy slowed the run rate considerably, but the wicket of the free-scoring J Young proved a turning point, as he holed out to Marcus Evans off the bowling of 14-year-old debutant Alex Wheeler for 48.

Greg Caffyn rotated his bowlers, with himself, Wheeler, Evans and Andrew Cole picking up two apiece and the Stolworthy brothers one each in the visitors' total of 181 all out.