Dereham CC's annual cricket week finished on a high note with a victory but the whole week could have been scuppered by the weather. Monday's game against the Roving Reporters started an hour later than scheduled.

Dereham CC's annual cricket week finished on a high note with a victory but the whole week could have been scuppered by the weather.

Monday's game against the Roving Reporters started an hour later than scheduled.

Dereham, being asked to bat first, posted 177 from 35 overs. The Reporters fell 40 runs short in reply.

Neil Irons received the Man of the Match polo shirt for his 41no. In return Derek Weist of the touring side received a bottle of Champagne.

Tuesday, with the ground given to Barry Battleley's Charity team Black Sheep, Dereham's cricketers enjoying a day out on the golf course.

The Black Sheep won comfortably against the Roving Reporters, notably Dereham's James Harbour scoring 55 in an opening stand of 170.

Wednesday saw the return of Sheffield Squirrels, their 76th tour of Norfolk and repeatedly playing against Dereham during that time.

Put into bat Sheffield posting 197-6 from 40 overs, home duo Lee Hoggett 70no and Neil Irons 52 were the only big scorers as Dereham fell 30 runs short of the target.

Notts Forest, who are not far behind Sheffield, returned for their 74th year on Thursday.

Dereham took only 33 overs to dismiss Forest, Stu Thompson claiming three wickets and Stu Fletcher picking up four wickets with his gentle pace, with Forest only managing to set a target of 110.

Dereham nearly folded early on, losing both openers within the first three overs, but John West steadied the ship with a timely 23 supported by Lee Hoggett 46no seeing Dereham home.

DEREHAM were dragged back into the relegation picture after losing in a thrilling finish at Swardeston B in Norfolk Alliance Division Two.

Chasing 174 for victory, Swardeston went into the penultimate over on 172 for eight. Dereham skipper Joe Marczewski - who had earlier top scored with 57no - brought himself on to bowl and claimed a wicket with his second delivery.

But he then undid his good work as he bowled two leg-side wides to hand second-from-bottom Swardeston a victory which brings them to within 20 points of Dereham.

Dereham were put into bat and lost David Lake and newcomer Joe Lukens early on, before Duncan Hewitt and Phil Banyard put on 33 for the third wicket. Banyard then went for nine and Jake Anema followed soon afterwards, leaving Dereham on 60 for four.

Hewitt and Marczewski batted sensibly to avert a crisis, before Hewitt pulled a long hop towards the boundary and was caught.

Marczewski was joined by Jonathan Crisp and they added 69 to help Dereham towards a defendable total.

Marczewski finished unbeaten on 57, but was just unable to secure an extra batting point as the visitors closed on 173 for eight.

The conditions conspired against Dereham as steady drizzle left them to bowl with a wet ball. The Swardeston openers took full advantage - and were helped by two dropped catches in consecutive deliveries - putting on 81 in quick time.

Part-time spinner Hewitt made the breakthrough and in tandem with fellow slow bowler Max Cheetham began to drag Dereham back into the game.

Hewitt claimed four wickets and Cheetham bagged two as Swardeston slumped to 121 for six. But the lack of another slow bowling option proved costly as, after Cheetham and Hewitt had completed their spells, Swardeston moved to within 16 runs of victory without further loss.

Anema reverted to slow bowling and was rewarded with two wickets as panic began to set in for the hosts, before the game reached its dramatic conclusion.

Dereham host promotion-chasing Saxlingham this Saturday.

Dereham: D Hewitt c Hooper b Hogg 37, D Lake c Reynolds b Chatland 0, J Lukens c Hogg b Chatland 11, P Banyard c Martin b Horrex 9, J Anema b Horrex 3, J Marczewski not out 57, J Crisp b Price 26, N Irons c Bilham b Price 0, M Cheetham run out 0; extras 29. Total (46 overs) 173-8.

Bowling: T Price 11-0-36-2, J Chatland 11-0-36-2, J Pearson 7-1-28-0, D Horrex 12-4-37-2, M Hogg 5-0-25-0.

Swardeston B: J Martin c-b Hewitt 33, J Hooper b Cheetham 35, J Olpin b Hewitt 10, A Bilham lbw Hewitt 5, B Hogg c Anema b Cheetham 6, J Pearson b Anema 32, M Hogg c-b Hewitt 1, J Reynolds c&b Anema 13, T Price c Irons b Marczewski 8, D Horrex not out 0, J Chatland not out 0. Extras 23. Total (44.5overs) 174-9.

Bowling: K Fletcher 6-0-26-0, J Anema 9-1-39-2, M Cheetham 12-1-35-2, D Hewitt 12-2-54-4, J Lukens 4-0-18-0, J Marczewski 0.5-0-2-1.