An under-strength Fakenham side were well beaten at Cromer as they returned to Norfolk Alliance action after a free weekend.

Injuries had put three bowlers out of action and with the continuing visa problems with the new professional, also an opening bowler, the side put out on Saturday had an unbalanced feel to it, with five second team players in the side.

Cromer has some of the shortest boundaries in the Alliance and portents for the game were not good.

Fakenham won the toss and opted to bat first, with Keegan Monaghan-Fairlie taking nine off the first eight deliveries but captain Will Dunger went early, bowled by Michael Warnes after a poor shot.

Monaghan-Fairlie continued his run-scoring until he put the ball right out of the ground with an excellent six. Sadly the lengthy delay while trying to find the ball appeared to break his concentration and he went for 27. Billy Yarham never looked totally comfortable against the accurate bowling and he was bowled by change bowler John Craske for 12 while James Havers didn’t trouble the scorers for long as Fakenham slipped to 51-4.

This brought in Fakenham coach Dave Coyle to add some stability, aided by Peter Matthews for a partnership of 75 before Cooke’s of Fakenham man-of-the-match Coyle was bowled by Rob Purton for 49. Paul Dunger joined Matthews and they continued the fightback until Matthews fell lbw to Richard Charlwood for 30. Toby Hood was the only other batsman to offer any resistance with 20 to back up Paul Dunger’s not out 36. The final total after 50 overs was a disappointing 220-7,

Cromer started their innings briskly and opener Frankie Suttom soon made it clear that he was happy to take risks and the aerial route to the boundary. The runs mounted quickly after initial breakthroughs by Speedman and Coyle, with the lack of bowling depth all too evident. The third wicket fell at 102, the fourth at 164, the fifth at 199 as Fakenham tried eight bowlers.

Dropped catches and misfields did nothing to help the cause as Sutton made his way to 130 before giving a catch to Dunger off Monaghan-Fairlie. Cromer made the required 221 for the loss of five wickets in only 29.2 overs to gain a thoroughly win.

Fakenham are at home to Old Buckenham on Saturday.