Dereham slipped to third in Norfolk Alliance Division Two after a seven-wicket defeat at bottom-three Hillington.

'Cricket was overtaken by the weather this time around and, of course, who won the coin toss,' said Dereham skipper Duncan Hewitt.

Dereham made 124, Hillington 125 for three.

A game to forget, but Dereham need to keep the pressure on the leaders. They entertain Garboldisham on Saturday.

With heavy overnight rain affecting the poorly-covered Hillington pitch on Saturday, winning the toss was going to be vital in Dereham's continual fine run. Calling heads was the wrong call as Dereham were asked to bat, on the wet-topped, green wicket.

Dereham's openers Lake and Hewitt started slowly as expected, the soaking outfield stopping any quality shot that was destined for the boundary.

Another rain shower saw the players leave the field, rain again getting onto the pitch, with the flurry of players and spectators helping in the quest to cover the wicket.

Returning after the break of 25 minutes, with the pitch even more spicy than previously, Hewitt was unfortunate to receive a delivery that sprung into life, edging the ball to the wicket-keeper. There was yet another rain stop with Dereham nicely poised at 40-1.

That's where the game was turned on its head. After tea was taken early, a spectacular collapse took place, Dereham losing six wickets for 24 runs including a close run-out.

Kristien Fletcher was Dereham's only notable run scorer with a fine 23. This was mainly due to the drying outfield along with some splendid shot selections. Dereham finished on 124 all out.

Knowing that the drying pitch was not going to favour the Dereham bowlers, Hillington soon took control.

What would have been ones or twos in Dereham innings ended up being boundaries. The sun was beating down, giving Dereham's bowlers no offer of any help.

Hillington lost three wickets in the chase, two to Jake Anema with Hewitt claiming the other.

Dereham: Lake caught b Taylor 17, Hewitt caught b Taylor 11, Marczewski caught b Taylor 12, Cheetham caught b Taylor 5, Anema run out 1, Irons caught A M Jarvis 1, Milbourne run out 6, Crisp b Jarvis 7, Fletcher c-b Fisher 23, Burrage b Fisher 12, Starling not out 2; extras 27. Total 124. Bowling: Taylor 12-5-23-4, A R Jarvis 8-1-34-0, Dobing 12-3-29-0, A M Jarvis 11-2-30-2, Jarvis 1-0-1-0, Fisher 2-0-6-2.

Hillington: Dobing c-b Anema 45, Barber c Hewitt b Anema 22, Fisher not out 41, Freeman b Hewitt 4, Osbourne not out 2; extras 10. Total (3 wkts) 124. Bowling: Fletcher 2-0-21-0, Starling 4-0-25-0, Cheetham 3-0-19-0, Anema 7.2-0-40-2, Hewitt 7-1-18-1.