Bradenham finished their Norfolk Alliance Division One season with a great four-wicket win at Topcroft.With no relegation worries, Bradenham were able to play with a no-fear attitude that paid dividends early on as the home side were reduced to 23 for five in the 14th over.

Bradenham finished their Norfolk Alliance Division One season with a great four-wicket win at Topcroft.

With no relegation worries, Bradenham were able to play with a no-fear attitude that paid dividends early on as the home side were reduced to 23 for five in the 14th over.

Bradenham had won the toss and invited the home side to bat. Brett Stolworthy struck in the first over, having Hancock caught behind for four.

His bowling partner Brett Gates also got into the act with a double strike in his second over, Davey being stumped by Matthews from a leg-side wide, and home skipper James Goodfellow receiving an absolute jaffer to be cleaned-bowled second ball for nought.

Gates removed the Topcroft opener Matthew Goodfellow - who had endured a torrid 10 overs in 30 minutes - for a duck then claimed the prize wicket of Buckinghamshire county player Uzzal Arif for 10.

Ian Todd launched a one-man fightback for the home side as he took the attack to Bradenham, hitting seven fours and two sixes in an excellent innings of 67 during which he received real support from only Rob Marshall, who made 21.

Todd was the last man out, run out at the non-striker's end, as Topcroft posted a below par 150 in 46 overs.

Bradenham's innings got off to a difficult start as Matthews was clean bowled by the pacy Arif for a first-ball duck.

Rob Thurley and Lewis Denmark settled the innings as they posted a 40-run partnership during the next 10 overs. However, Arif then removed Denmark, well caught at second slip for 20, and the game could have gone either way.

Brett Stolworthy and Thurley took Bradenham to the brink of victory with a match-winning partnership of 89 during which Thurley made a mature 44 before he fell victim to the excellent Todd as he tried to finish the game in spectacular fashion.

Bradenham then suffered a slight hiccup as Mike Taylor (6), Mark Hunter (0) and Andy Wilton (0) all fell in the space of six balls as Bradenham stuttered from 145 for three to 147 for six.

Patrick Dewing joined Stolworthy and the pair scored the remaining four runs required for victory to leave Bradenham a creditable fourth place in the final table.

Bradenham's league campaign has been sponsored by Blu-Print mortgages and Trek Highway Services.

Topcroft: C Hancock c S Matthews b B Stolworthy 4, M Goodfellow c S Matthews b B Gates 0, B Davey st S Matthews b B Gates 1, J Goodfellow b B Gates 0, U Arif b B Gates 10, I Todd run out 67, D Reeder lbw M Hunter 5, R Marshall lbw C Balluza 21, P Holmes lbw L Denmark 4, N Twyman c M Taylor b R Thurley 2, H Windridge not out 5; extras 31. Total 150.

Bowling: B Stolworthy 10-1-28-1, B Bates 13-4-24-4, R Thurley 6-0-28-1, M Hunter 7-0-28-1, C Balluza 7-1-28-1, L Denmark 3.4-1-8-1.

Bradenham: R Thurley c J Goodfellow b I Todd 44, S Matthews b U Arif 0, L Denmark c R Marshall b U Arif 20, B Stolworthy not out 51, M Taylor c C Hancock b U Arif 6, M Hunter c C Hancock b I Todd 0, A Wilton b I Todd 0, P Dewing not out 1; extras 29. Total (6 wkts) 151.

Bowling: U Arif 12.5-1-62-3, I Todd 10-125-3, R Marshall 6-1-26-0, J Goodfellow 3-0-18-0, D Reeder 1-0-9-0.