Bradenham's poor start to the Norfolk Alliance Division Two season continued as they were well beaten by Hethersett & Tas Valley at Flordon.

Having won the toss for the third successive week skipper Al Bates decided to mix up the batting order and open the innings himself with John Read.

Taking advantage of a short boundary one side was the aim and putting bat to ball with some aggression the way to reach it. The openers scored at four an over with a couple of maximums from Bates before he perished to a straight one from Curtis for 21.

Marcus Evans joined Read and the pair were more content to pick off the bad balls. The score moved on to 68 before Bradenham lost two quick wickets, leaving them 74-3.

William Dewing joined Evans and the run rate started to move on more smoothly until Evans (36) was extremely unlucky to be bowled by a delivery that kept very low.

Rob Ellis then came to the crease and along with Dewing took the attack back to the bowlers. The pair added 58 and Dewing reached 50 before he was caught and bowled. Ellis made 40 himself as the Bradenham tail pushed the final score up to 209.

On a fast outfield, and with a short boundary, Bradenham needed early wickets to put Hethersett on the back foot.

Unfortunately this didn't transpire and the home side accumulated runs without too much alarm. Bates rotated his bowlers looking for the breakthrough but despite a few lbw appeals there were very few chances to be had.

Ian Bryce (128 not out) and Robbie Matthews (78 not out) batted right through the innings as Bates used all 10 outfield players as bowlers in an attempt to provoke scorer Joanne Dewing into action. Even this brought no luck however as the home side won by 10 wickets inside 40 overs.

Bradenham A lost by eight wickets to Lowestoft A in Division Five.

Opener Michael Taylor made 76 as Bradenham got up to 157-9 in their 45 overs but it wasn't enough, with Lowestoft pair Peter Sims (71 not out) and Arun Nair (68 not out) teaming up to see their side home to a comfortable win after a couple of early wickets.

Bradenham travel to Ashmanhaugh and Barton Wanderers on Saturday while the seconds are at home to Great Melton A.