NORTH Elmham entertained local rivals Brisley in the first local league derby for a good few yearsIn Norfolk League Division Six, Elmham (23 points) beat Brisley (6) by two wickets.

NORTH Elmham entertained local rivals Brisley in the first local league derby for a good few years

In Norfolk League Division Six, Elmham (23 points) beat Brisley (6) by two wickets.

On winning the toss, Brisley captain David Steele had no hesitation in batting on a hard wicket with a decent covering of grass. Seven overs into the innings he must have been having second thoughts as the pace of Grant King and the accuracy of Iain Sinclair tore into the Brisley top-order batting and half the side was out for five runs.

When King took his fourth wicket the visitors were 29-7. John Clark was joined by Will Longworth and the pair attempted to repair the damage as the bowlers started to tire in the heat.

Runs came more easily against change bowlers Rob Joplin and Andy Kay. Joplin was unlucky and Kay struggled to find his usual rhythm. A stand of 37 was broken when Kay bowled Clark for a well made 41.

Longworth continued to chance his arm before Chris Palmer turned again to his opening bowlers. Sinclair soon did the business, bowling Longworth for 45 from 48 balls faced as the visitors were finally all out for 105. They must have been very happy at this point as Elmham failed to drive home their early advantage.

The hosts' innings followed the same pattern as Longworth accounted for Stephan Malherbe and Tony Garrod and ex-Elmham player Steve Kay bowled King and Richie Futter. M Creef bowled John Livings and had Sinclair caught and the hosts were 33-6.

Palmer was batting sensibly waiting and punishing anything off-line and Joplin joined his skipper in a stand of 37 in 12 overs before Joplin fell to Longworth. Still 35 to get but only three wickets to fall.

Andy Kay joined his skipper and helped Palmer take the score to 100 before he lost concentration and was bowled. Gideon Rossouw stayed with Palmer as the winning line was approached. Palmer struck the winning boundary and brought up his own half-century to take the hosts to victory by two wickets.

Next, at home to Hardingham A, players meet at 1.30pm.

Brisley: D Steele b King 2, J Shailes b King 1, R Steele b Sinclair 1, J Clark b Kay 41, M Greef c-b King 0, B Fordham c Rossouw b Sinclair 0, S Kay b Sinclair 6, A Rawlings c Palmer b King 0, W Longworth b Sinclair 45, E Savage c Futter b Kay 4, T Bush not out 0; extras 5. Total (30.3 overs) 105. Bowling: I Sinclair 8.3-5-9-4, G King 8-2-28-4, A Kay 7-1-35-1, R Joplin 7-1-33-0.

North Elmham: A Garrod b Longworth 0, S Malherbe c Clark b Longworth 1, G King b Kay 10, C Palmer not out 50, R Futter b Kay 0, J Livings b Greef 0, I Sinclair c Longworth b Greef 1, R Joplin c-b Longworth 11, A Kay b R Steele 12, G Rossouw not out 1; extras 23. Total (36.5 overs) 109-8. Bowling: W Longworth 7-1-18-3, R Steele 8.5-1-47-1, S Kay 12-7-13-2, M Greef 9-3-25-2.