Dereham captain, all-rounder Duncan Hewitt, is the Dipple & Conway Opticians Norfolk Alliance Player of the Month for June.

Meanwhile Bradenham's Will Dewing – who took hat-tricks on two successive Saturdays – and Carl Rogers of Great Witchingham A kept the area's standard flying high by claiming two of the three runners-up slots.

After finishing runner-up for the May award, Hewitt went one better in June, securing his nomination with a string of fine performances, including four and five-wicket stints with the ball and a 72 not out with the bat. With their skipper leading the way, Dereham are vying for the Division One title as the season hits the halfway point.

The father-of-two's achievement was saluted by James Conway. A director at Alliance sponsors Dipple & Conway Opticians, he marked the player's achievement by presenting him with a pair of Polarised designer sunglasses.

'Someone who can produce the goods with both bat and ball as consistently as Duncan has throughout the first half of the season thoroughly deserves this award,' said Conway.

'Poor weather made June a particularly challenging month in which to score well, but Duncan passed the test with flying colours.'

Hewitt also received a commemorative pennant from Alliance vice-chairman John Tythcott.

'Hopefully Duncan will have good cause to make use of his prize throughout the rest of the summer,' said James Conway, whose grandfather founded the independent family opticians business, which is celebrating its centenary this year .

Hewitt had a storming start and finish to June. At the beginning of the month he led Dereham to a 10-wicket whitewash over Norwich A, top-scoring with an unbeaten 72 and taking 4-36. He ended the month as he had begun with 5-40 in a 49-run win over title rivals Horsford A.

His introduction to Dereham dates back over a quarter-century.

Roof-tiler Hewitt, in his second spell as captain, said: 'I learnt from some great players. My dad Adie, who is now the club groundsman, started taking me along when I was about eight and I worked my way up through the youth teams.'

With Dereham challenging for honours their leader is well on course to beast last year's Alliance total of 746 runs.

'When it comes to bowling though, I think I am a bit lucky. I seem to pick up wickets even when I am not bowling well – I think most of the team will tell you that,' he laughed.

'Team spirit is one of our greatest strengths at Dereham.

'Nearly all of us have played together for several years. We're all good friends as well as team-mates and it doesn't stop at cricket.

'We play darts as a team and a lot of us play football together too.'