DEREHAM relinquished top stop in Alliance Division Two as they slipped to a 98-run defeat by Sheringham.Dereham asked Sheringham to bat. Gary Starling and Kristien Fletcher bowled tightly early on and when Taylor was caught by Neil Burrage off Starling the score was 6-1 in the ninth over.

DEREHAM relinquished top stop in Alliance Division Two as they slipped to a 98-run defeat by Sheringham.

Dereham asked Sheringham to bat. Gary Starling and Kristien Fletcher bowled tightly early on and when Taylor was caught by Neil Burrage off Starling the score was 6-1 in the ninth over.

The visitors continued to struggle as Andy Lawrence bowled Tuck with his second delivery before Chris Sutton ran himself out three balls later.

From 25-3, Ravi Pushpakumara and Hall added 81 either side of a break for rain before Fletcher bowled Hall to give himself a well-earned wicket. Chris Carey soon followed, and although skipper Duncan Hewitt had Pushpakumara caught for 87 and Starling took his second wicket, Sheringham closed on an imposing 204-7.

Dereham's openers Hewitt and Tom Wallace started in positive fashion before Hewitt was bowled by a beauty from Pushpakumara for 14. Wallace and Jay Eastoe-Smith soon followed to leave Dereham 51-3.

However, a good partnership developed between Lawrence and Max Cheetham before a heavy shower delayed play with Dereham 85-3. Lawrence fell for a well-made 27 in the first over after the resumption, and three more wickets followed in next four overs to leave Dereham in deep trouble.

With Kevin Denmark unable to bat, Dereham's last two wickets needed to survive for 16 overs to force a draw. Despite a gallant effort from Burrage, Tom Head and Fletcher, Dereham were beaten with two overs to spare.

Dereham produced a spirited display before going down to a 74-run defeat in the Lady Mary Trophy at Premier Division Cromer.

Dereham fielded first and following two early dropped catches were made to toil as Reyno Arendse and Tom Davies added 178 for the first wicket in just 28 overs.

Aaron Garner had Davies brilliantly caught by Gary Starling with his first delivery. Andy Lawrence dismissed Elliott before Arendse and Brown fell in quick succession to Garner to leave Cromer 204-4.

A partnership of 56 between Warnes and Charwood boosted the home team to 260-5 as Garner bowled Warnes for his fourth wicket.

Dereham replied in positive fashion as Duncan Hewitt took two boundaries off Warnes' first over. After Hewitt fell, Joe Marczewski smashed Warnes for three consecutive boundaries as Dereham kept up with the required rate before Dereham slipped to 44-3.

Lawrence played superbly in making 41. His dismissal left Dereham 96-7. Lee Hoggett and Tom Head entertained the crowd with a partnership of 50 in six overs. Starling struck a quickfire 15 and Stu Fletcher seven, as Dereham were bowled out for 186. Hoggett was left stranded after an excellent 27 not out.