DEREHAM suffered their third consecutive league defeat, despite giving Norfolk Alliance Division Two leaders Hales a late scare at Norwich Road.The hosts batted first and struggled early on, before skipper Joe Marczewski led a revival with his second half century of the season against Hales.

DEREHAM suffered their third consecutive league defeat, despite giving Norfolk Alliance Division Two leaders Hales a late scare at Norwich Road.

The hosts batted first and struggled early on, before skipper Joe Marczewski led a revival with his second half century of the season against Hales.

He made 58 and was ably supported by Tom Wallace (40 no) as Dereham posted a respectable total of 178-6.

Hales appeared to be cruising to victory as Daniel Anderson hit 68, but a flurry of late wickets brought the game back into the balance. Kristien Fletcher claimed three victims, but it was not quite enough to salvage a win for Dereham as the visitors edged home with seven wickets down.

The result saw Dereham slip to fifth in the table and this Saturday they travel to North Runcton A, who won on Saturday courtesy of overseas player Clinton Berkenshaw's century and six-wicket haul.

It was also a disappointing day for Dereham A as they allowed victory to slip through their grasp at Sprowston A in Alliance Division Four.

Dereham fielded first and made the first breakthrough when keeper Neil Burrage clung on to a spectacular one-handed catch off the bowling of Jonathan Crisp.

Slow bowlers Tom Head and Ian Battelley turned the screws for Dereham, both bowling tight lines and prompting the Sprowston batsmen to get themselves out.

Sprowston were reduced to 120-8, but crucially they added 35 runs for the last two wickets. Head claimed four for 45 as Sprowston were all out for 155 in the 40th over.

Dereham suffered a significant blow as Battelley was caught down the leg side off his glove in the second over and David Lake also departed after hitting two early boundaries.

After the dismissals of George Pledger, Lewis Bates and Burrage, skipper Jack Perrin-West came to the crease and after a cautious start he provided some valuable support for opener Philip Banyard.

West was caught on the boundary just as he appeared to be settling in, but Head came in and immediately struck a flurry of boundaries.

He and Banyard took Dereham to 120-6 and seemingly on course for victory, but a change of bowling saw Banyard glove the ball to the keeper down the leg side and depart for 53.

Head then sliced a catch to third man and Dereham's remaining batsmen crumbled as the visitors were all out for 126.

This Saturday, Dereham A host leaders Great Witchingham.

Roll of honour: Joe Marczewski (Dereham) 58, Philip Banyard (Dereham A) 53, Tom Head (Dereham A) 4-45.