Bradenham ended any lingering relegation fears when beat promotion-chasing Stow in a thrilling two-wicket win in Norfolk Alliance Division One.Bradenham won the toss and inserted the visitors, who had recently risen to second place in the table.

Bradenham ended any lingering relegation fears when beat promotion-chasing Stow in a thrilling two-wicket win in Norfolk Alliance Division One.

Bradenham won the toss and inserted the visitors, who had recently risen to second place in the table. Bradenham started the day in sixth place - but with only 18 points covering positions four to nine, it was all to play for.

Stow got off to a flyer with 27 runs coming from the first five overs as Bradenham's bowlers and fielders failed to settle down.

However, a vital breakthrough came in the sixth over as Gates had High caught behind for 25. Another partnership of 26 between Denny and Thompson took Stow past the 50 mark in the 13th over before Gates claimed his second wicket, trapping Thompson lbw for 13.

Rob Thurley then chipped in with two important wickets. He removed Denny caught and bowled for 14 then having overseas man Perera caught behind for just eight.

Stow skipper Sam Albutt, so often a thorn in Bradenham's side, was left to hold his side's innings together and made a fine 63.

However, no other Stow player was able to reach 20 as Chad Balluza (2-27) and Mark Hunter (2-15) bowled well at the end of the Stow innings to restrict the visitors to 186 all out.

Bradenham's innings started poorly with both Thurley (6) and Matthews (7) departing before the score had reached 25.

However, Mike Taylor took the attack to Stow with three fours in one over to kick-start the home side's reply.

However, another double setback occurred with the score on 61 as both Stolworthy and Dewing were dismissed by Perera.

Lewis Denmark joined Taylor and a partnership of 26 took Bradenham to 87 before Taylor was bowled for 41.

Mark Hunter joined Denmark and the pair batted sensibly to put on 47 as Bradenham pushed the score

to 134.

At this point Bradenham looked well set for victory as they still had 12 overs to score the remaining 50 runs needed for victory. But Denmark went for 29 and Kevin Blakey for 12 to leave Bradenham still requiring 40 to win with only three wickets remaining.

It was left to Hunter and Balluza to steer the side home with a vital38-run partnership before Hunter was caught on the boundary for 39.

Bradenham required two runs to seal victory with only two overs and two wickets left.

Andy Wilton survived the 49th over and Balluza scored the winning runs from the fourth ball of the last over to cap a fine Bradenham team performance.

Stow: T High c S Matthews b Gates 25, W Denny c-b Thurley 14, K Thompson lbw Gates 13, D Perera c Matthews b Thurley 8, S Albutt b Balluza 63, E Landymore c Gates b Thurley 16, D Ward c Balluza b Hunter 16, R Landymore c Dewing b Hunter 14, S Moulton c Matthews b Balluza 0, J Barter run out 4, G Cook not out 0; extras 10. Total 186.

Bowling: B Stolworthy 9-0-49-0, B Gates 13-5-29-2, R Thurley 13-2-41-3, L Denmark 3-0-19-0, C Balluza 8-0-27-2, M Hunter 3.2-0-15-2.

Bradenham: S Matthews b Ring 7, R Thurley lbw Moulton 6, B Stolworthy b Parera 5, M Taylor c Moulton b Perera 41, P Dewing c Moulton b Perera 0, L Denmark c S Moulton b Perera 29, M Hunter c Moulton b Perera 39, K Blakey c Moulton b Perera 12, C Balluza not out 10, A Wilton not out 0; extras 8. Total (8 wkts) 187.