Bradenham won a superb victory away to Premier Division Lowestoft on Sunday in the opening round of this year's Carter Cup competition.The win was even more significant because Division One Bradenham were three first-team players short with Stan Matthews and Keven Blakey unavailable and in-form all-rounder Lewis Denmark on Norfolk duty.

Bradenham won a superb victory away to Premier Division Lowestoft on Sunday in the opening round of this year's Carter Cup competition.

The win was even more significant because Division One Bradenham were three first-team players short with Stan Matthews and Keven Blakey unavailable and in-form all-rounder Lewis Denmark on Norfolk duty. And useful all-rounder Ash Stolworthy had to withdraw on the day of the match due to illness.

Bradenham therefore had to turn to their youth section with Carter Cup debuts for Ryan Adcock and Andy Wilton. The team was completed when club stalwart Zac Watts was included in the attack.

The younger players all stepped up to the mark with significant contributions.

Bradenham invited Lowestoft to bat on a damp and slightly unpredictable Denes Oval wicket.

Watts and Brett Stolworthy both found good movement off the pitch and opener Larter was soon caught at cover off the pacey Stolworthy.

The other opener, Storey, dug in and in the face of good accurate bowling from change bowlers Brett Gates and Al Bates, Lowestoft pushed the score along to 64 before Storey was caught by Hunter off Gates for 39.

The addition of David Hillier to the attack with his accurate line and length brought little respite to the Lowestoft batsmen and their frustration began to show.

Brice managed 19 and Garrod 29 and Lowestoft could manage just 147 all out.

Bradenham's good all-round bowling display was matched by a superb fielding display.

No chances were spilled and a quite brilliant two-handed diving catch was taken by young Ryan Adcock at square leg which would have graced any match at any level.

Bates finished with 4 for 30, Hillier with 2 for 18, Gates with 2 for 27 and Stolworthy with 1 for 33.

Evans and Stolworthy opened the Bradenham innings against a lively Lowestoft attack and the score advanced to 23 before Stolworthy was bowled by Brice for 10.

South African Popes Selowa lost no time in effortlessly dispatching some short deliveries to the boundary. Having played himself in, however, he became Brice's second victim, attempting another pull shot and getting a top edge.

Mark Hunter and Evans consolidated and pushed the score to 82, helped by extras, before Hunter was unlucky to be given out, caught behind.

At tea, Bradenham were on 84 for 3 with plenty of overs remaining.

The tea break came at the wrong time for Evans who had anchored the innings, and he was caught behind for a patient 21.

With the score getting ever closer to the required 148 and with overs in hand, Brett Gates frustrated the Lowestoft bowlers until he was adjudged lbw for a well-made 14.

This set up a tense finish with Watts, Bates, Wilton and Adcock all contributing to allow Bradenham to pass the required total with seven balls to spare.

Bradenham CC is sponsored by Blue Print Mortgages.

Dereham were one of two clubs unable to field a team in the Carter Cup, Saham Toney being the other, which meant walk-overs for Vauxhall Mallards and Fakenham.