A poor display of bowling and fielding, coupled with an inability to build on a good start with the bat, led to Fakenham suffering a disappointing defeat to lowly Garboldisham on Saturday.

Having won the toss again, Fakenham opted to bat on a day and wicket that positively screamed runs.

Keegan Monahan-Fairlie and John Ewart continued their recent good form, setting a great platform with an 85 run partnership off 21 overs.

The former departed for 32, caught and bowled, but Ewart was now beginning to find his stride and had made 61 off 71 balls when he chased a wide ball and was caught behind.

At 105-2 off 29 overs, Fakenham had only scored 20 runs off the previous nine overs. Whilst Ben Harvey and Luke Caswell were looking assured in the face of accurate bowling, there was a feeling that 250 was a minimum required score on what was a good batting track.

The pair took the score to 185 before Caswell (47) was bowled in the 44th over. Harrison Futter (7), Olly Hall (2) came and went before a late burst from Lloyd Marshall (12 off six) saw the team finish 226-5, with Harvey 51 not out.

Fakenham's bowling has often been their strength but on this occasion they were scruffy and wayward from the start. The fielding was often poor as well and 46 extras, with 35 wides to Garboldisham's eight, was the highest conceded in over three years.

Despite a three wicket burst from Billy Buckingham, Fakenham were never really able to build pressure. but at 100-4 off 25 there was still a chance and when that became 145-5 off 38, 82 off 12 were required and Fakenham looked well placed.

Danny Cash (56 off 73) had other ideas however. Despite Marshall (3-46) taking three quick wickets at the end Cash, in conjunction with No 11, Phil King, saw Garboldisham over the line by one wicket in a game that owed as much to Fakenham's tardiness in all departments as it did to the opposition's excellent chase.

The loss put Fakenham back into second spot in the Norfolk Alliance Premier Division table behind North Runcton by a mere two points and the players will have to perform a lot better against Norwich at Postwick on Saturday if they want to win the Premiership again this season.

The second team beat Rocklands by 37 runs after Pete Matthews (73) and Jack Ashford (54) got the innings off to a fine start in a total of 194-6 off 45 overs. Figures of 4-13 from Harvey Osborne then led the way to another straightforward win for the side.

The third team game was cancelled by the opposition who could not raise a side.

The first team game was sponsored by North Norfolk Roofing, with ball sponsorship courtesy of Countrywide Joinery Ltd.