BRADENHAM started their second match of this campaign – and Dereham their first – in this first of the derby clashes at Dereham on Saturday.

The match was the only one to go ahead in the Norfolk Alliance Division One due to the inclement weather and this was only possible due to the valiant work of groundsman Ade Hewitt and help from within the club in preparing a wicket and outfield capable of play.

However, it was inevitable that the pitch would be damp – and the outfield even wetter – and the toss would be important to win. This was duly done by Dereham and Duncan Hewitt had no hesitation in inserting the visitors.

Bradenham openers Kevin Stagles and Mike Taylor lined up against the opening bowling partnership of Gary Starling and Bradley Raper. It was a day when the bowlers and conditions would have the upper hand. Runs were always going to be hard to come by and the batsmen found it difficult against the miserly Dereham attack.

Both openers went cheaply with a wicket for each opening bowler. Third man Moody played some shots whilst Evans was out for nought, having played on to one which kept low.

Moody was out for 17, caught and bowled by Anema, and the middle order could offer little.

It was left to the father and son partnership, Pat and Will Dewing, to bring some respectability to the Bradenham innings and they put on 44 runs before Will Dewing was bowled round his legs by Anema for 13.

Pat Dewing was finally out for 36, by which time the Bradenham total had reached 101.

Anema returned figures of 5-36 with Bradley Raper the pick of the rest, returning 3-8 off seven overs. This was not a high total from Bradenham, but the conditions were not ideal and Dereham knew it would not be easy to win – and so it proved.

Dereham openers Hewitt and David Lake set about their task carefully whilst Al Bates and Will Dewing were equally intent and kept scoring opportunities to a minimum.

A bowling change from skipper Mark Hunter saw the breakthrough that Bradenham were looking for when Ian Moody had Lake trapped in front for seven. Moody again accounted for Hewitt for a well-made 24 whilst Hunter himself had Dan Lake lbw for two. When Neil Irons was run out for 20, Bradenham sensed an opportunity and when Hunter had Cheetham caught first ball, they had got themselves into a match-winning situation, with Dereham rocking on 60 for 5.

But the weather had the last say and with a more prolonged spell of rain after tea, the umpires duly abandoned the game.