North Elmham were completely outplayed by their hosts Brisley in Saturday's closing Norfolk League Division Six fixture, losing by eight wickets. Due to the heavy rain of the previous week it was obvious that whoever won the toss was going to have an advantage.

North Elmham were completely outplayed by their hosts Brisley in Saturday's closing Norfolk League Division Six fixture, losing by eight wickets.

Due to the heavy rain of the previous week it was obvious that whoever won the toss was going to have an advantage.

Chris Palmer, in his last match before retiring, lost the toss and Elmham were understandably inserted on a pudding of a pitch.

It was soon obvious that batting was going to be a lottery as the ball kept low or bounced like a tennis ball.

Iain Sinclair was the first to perish, followed by Palmer who was bowled by a shooter from short of a length.

Wickets tumbled at regular intervals and overs bowled were greater than runs scored.

The Brisley bowlers maintained an excellent line and length for the conditions.

After 30 overs the visitors were 23-3. Trying to increase the run rate was difficult against the accurate bowling, and it wasn't until the 40th over that runs overtook overs faced.

Batting became slightly easier as the strong wind finally started to dry the pitch.

Calum Tindall, aged 18, batted well, and with some good running between the wickets the visitors finally managed to post 60-9.

All the hosts' bowlers performed well with A Grief being the pick with only seven runs conceded in his

12-over spell.

Elmham needed to take early wickets, but with batting becoming easier and the bowlers trying too hard this didn't happen.

B Fordham and home skipper David Steele put on 25 before Tindall took a good steepling catch to dismiss Fordham.

Rob Steele joined his father and the pair took the score to 55 before Palmer, who had been rotating his bowlers, had Rob Steele caught by Keeble to gain a second point.

No further wickets fell as Brisley ran out easy winners by eight wickets in the 28th over.

Elmham skipper Chris Palmer said afterwards: 'After 41 seasons of competitive cricket I have decided to call it a day.

'Due to injuries I have been advised to quit bowling, and I get very frustrated when I can't compete fully.

'When I rejoined the club it was close to folding. We managed to keep it going, with promotion last season being a bonus.

'This season we started well but due to player commitments we finished the season playing like relegation candidates.'

North Elmham (2pts) lost to Brisley (21) by eight wickets in Norfolk League Division Six.

North Elmham: A Garrod b M Grief 8, I Sinclair b A Grief 2, C Palmer b Longworth 0, R Futter c D Steele b M Grief 6, A Keeble b M Grief 2, R Joplin b Kay 2, J Hall lbw Kay 1, A Kay c Clarke b R Steele 8, C Tindall not out 16, J Harding b R Steele 1, P Blackford not out 2; extras 12. Total (9 wkts) 60.

Bowling: W Longworth 7-4-7-1, A Grief 12-5-7-1, S Kay 12-4-10-2, M Grief 10-2-17-3, R Steele 4-0-14-2.

Brisley: D Steele not out 16, B Fordham c Tindall b Keeble 22, R Steele c Keeble b Palmer 16, J Clarke not out 4; extras 4. Total (2 wkts) 61.

Bowling: I Sinclair 5-4-10-0, A Keeble 8-4-16-1, A Kay 6-1-13-0, R Joplin 5-1-5-0, C Tindall 2-0-10-0, C Palmer 1.1-0-5-1.