Skipper Duncan Hewitt found his form to steer Dereham to an eight-wicket victory at home to struggling Kirkley & Lowestoft Railway in Alliance Division Two.

Skipper Duncan Hewitt found his form to steer Dereham to an eight-wicket victory at home to struggling Kirkley & Lowestoft Railway in Alliance Division Two.

Hewitt fired his first half-century of the season, an unbeaten 82, after four-wicket hauls from Andy Lawrence and Aaron Garner had helped dismiss bottom side Kirkley for 136.

Kirkley were asked to bat first on a damp surface and there was an early breakthrough when Joe Marczewski had Pavier caught by the tumbling Tom Head.

Aggressive batting from Snell and Guy took Kirkley to 55, but Lawrence broke the partnership with his second ball, having Guy caught and bowled. Lawrence claimed two more wickets and Head took another catch, from Garner's bowling, to dismiss Snell for 40 and make it 98-5.

Big hitting from former Dereham player Mark Bowns boosted the Kirkley total, but he was out caught on the boundary by Jay-Eastoe-Smith off Garner.

Lawrence and Garner were both vying for a five-wicket haul with nine wickets down, but the prize remained unclaimed as Garner produced a direct hit run out to wrap up the innings.

Hewitt was soon into his stride in the Dereham reply, pulling Meadows for four, but Phil Banyard ran himself out attempting a second run.

When Eastoe-Smith skied a leading edge to mid-off, Dereham were in some difficulties at 22-2. But Hewitt formed a steady alliance with Lawrence and they took complete control to guide Dereham to victory without further loss, in the 34th over.

Hewitt's 82 came from 113 balls and included 11 fours, while Lawrence was unbeaten on 40 from 71 balls, with two boundaries.

The win keeps Dereham second in the table behind Mundford, and they will look to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign at Garboldisham on Saturday.

Dereham's Sunday side picked up their first win of the season with an excellent six-wicket win over Hethersett & Tas Valley in the Mid Norfolk League.

Tom Head took four wickets and Gary Starling claimed three as Tas finished on 130-9 from their 40 overs.

After the loss of early wickets, Max Cheetham (56 not out) and Aaron Garner (31 not out) batted Dereham to victory.