Any lingering hopes North Elmham had of promotion were shattered on Saturday as visitors Rollesby blew them away by nine wickets in Norfolk League Division six.

Any lingering hopes North Elmham had of promotion were shattered on Saturday as visitors Rollesby blew them away by nine wickets in Norfolk League Division six.

Missing five players from the previous week, the hosts were invited to bat on a pitch soft from overnight heavy rain. Ant Keeble struck visiting bowler Barnden but then perished trying to do the same thing again and was caught. When Stephan Malherbe was out Elmham were in trouble at 36 for three.

Richie Futter and 15-year-old Matt Gilbert batted sensibly, adding 23 before Futter was caught for 17.

Chris Palmer joined Gilbert but Gilbert was soon caught, bringing John Livings to join the skipper. Palmer slowly got to grips with the pitch and the visiting bowling but M Browning was slowly working his way through the home batting. When Andy Kay was unfortunately run out, Palmer was left with the tail.

A few lusty blows followed before Palmer was caught going for another boundary. The Elmham innings was completed when Browning took his fifth wicket to get rid of Jack Harding, Browning finishing with five for 20.

Andy Kay and Ant Keeble opened the Elmham bowling but were unable to get the early breakthrough.

Visiting opener Alan Fakes found the bowling to his liking whilst Price was happy to occupy the crease. Elmham tried many bowling changes with evergreen Tony Garrod bowling a tidy spell.

Youngster Calum Tindall finally got the breakthrough with Keeble catching Price for a watchful 14.

This brought ex-Brisley player Roy Websdale in to join Fakes, who soon passed 50 made, from 64 balls, and the pair won the game in the 27th over. Fakes finished 70 not out and Websdale 21 not out.

Next game home to Happisburgh, players meet 1.30pm.

North Elmham: S Malherbe c-b Websdale 15, A Keeble c Hewitt b Barnden 15, A Garrod b Barnden 0, R Futter c Thackery b Browning 17, M Gilbert c Websdale b Browning 3, C Palmer c Websdale b Browning 37, J Livings c Roffey b Websdale 12, A. Kay run out 1, C. Tindall c Thackery b Browning 0, J. Harding lbw Browning 0, D. Yaxley not out 0; extras 12. Total 112. Bowling: R Websdale 10-3-21-2, G Barnden 9-1-33-2, L Roffey 7-1-21-0, M Browning 11.5-5-20-5, B Price 1-0-12-0.

Rollesby: A Fakes not out 70, B Price c Keeble b Tindall 14, R Websdale not out 21; extras 8. Total (1 wkt) 113. Bowling: A Kay 6.2-1-22-0, A Keeble 5-0-18-0, A Garrod 5-0-23-0, C Tindall 8-0-29-1, M Gilbert 2-0-17-0.