BOTH Bradenham and Sprowston were pleased to play in sunshine, which had looked unlikely with the hosts' ground under water on Thursday.Sprowston's Alliance Division One promotion challenge faded with a 39-run defeat.

BOTH Bradenham and Sprowston were pleased to play in sunshine, which had looked unlikely with the hosts' ground under water on Thursday.

Sprowston's Alliance Division One promotion challenge faded with a 39-run defeat.

Bradenham lost the toss and were asked to bat. But opening pair Rob Thurley, who went on to make 76, and Steven Matthews dug up and played the moving ball well on a tricky wicket.

The Bangladeshi, Biswas bowled a superb line with only six runs coming from his first six overs. Having done the hard work and seeing off the openers Matthews and Thurley went about their business putting on the club's first half-century partnership of the season, before Lake caught a sharp catch at short extra.

Tianne Mostert blasted three boundaries before playing on. An in-form Patrick Dewing increased the rate, scoring a run a ball 23 before being caught in the deep.

Thurley passed his half-century with a fine on drive for four, which kick-started Kevin Blakey into action. He smashed not only the ball but a spectator's car window with a big six.

Sprowston clawed their way back removing Blakey (22) and the having Luke Findlay ran out without facing a ball. Mark Cator (19) casually stroked the ball around before becoming the second of Lake's victims and Stolworthy his third. Bradenham set the hosts a respectable 185 for victory on a drying wicket.

Sprowston lost two early wickets to Mostert, J Leverett looping catch at gully to Brett Stolworthy and J Glozier was caught and bowled. Andy Hamby (18) and Biswas (26) showed aggression and scored boundaries with ease. A double bowling change saw the run rate slow and Biswas was cleaned bowled by Brett Gates.

Ryan Findlay removed his Wymondham College team mate, having him caught off the glove by Matthews. Glozier was lucky to survive an lbw shout, shouldering arms, but fought fire with fire and blasted two boundaries in the over.

Ian Murrell also hit the boundaries well. With the tide turning back to the hosts, Stolworthy snaffled a low catch to remove Glozier. With the score on 102 Sam Hales and Murrell looked comfortable when Hales had a rush of blood and was bowled by Ryan Findlay.

Murrell was joined by his captain Roff, still needing 60 runs from 10 overs. Gates gambled, bowling his overs straight through, and was rewarded with Murrell's wicket lbw for 31.

The introduction of Stolworthy and Thurley reaped the rewards as they mopped up the tail for seven runs, leaving Sprowston short of 150 and missing out on a point.