Fakenham recorded a 27-run win at Sprowston to move off the foot of the Norfolk Alliance Premier Division table.

Having waited a while for his arrival, overseas professional Chathura Peiris was on his way back to Sri Lanka with a back injury and there was a chance for the in-form duo of Harry Bammant and Harrison Futter to step up from the second team.

Fakenham won the toss and decided to bat, with Keegan Monahan-Fairlie scoring four fours in the opening over to get his side off to a rousing start.

It got much tougher when Sprowston started to find their line and length but Monahan-Fairlie and Bammant batted steadily for 13 overs until the latter was caught for 16 to make it 48-1. Monahan-Fairlie followed shortly after, giving a catch off the bowling of Tejarla. Futter, who had replaced Bammant, hit a couple of fours but Clarke then bowled him for eight.

Lloyd Marshall and captain Will Dunger steadied the ship with some careful batting to add another 30 before Dunger was bowled by Roff for 14, with the score now 88-4. Marshall lasted a couple more overs before he too was caught out by the conditions and gave a catch off the bowling of Roff to end with a patient 11.

Pete Matthews and Dave Coyle proceeded to try their best to recover the position. The pair added 98 before Matthews was trapped lbw by Roff for a defiant 39. A couple more wickets fell but Coyle stayed there until the end, securing the last batting point with the last ball of the innings and taking his score to 73 not out and Fakenham’s 225-8 off their 50 overs.

Tom White bowled Murrell for eight in the sixth over before Sprowston’s other opener was run out by an excellent throw from Bammant. Tenjaria was then well caught by Futter off Steve Earle’s bowling to make it 37-3.

Palmer was next to go, bowled by Monahan-Fairlie for 15 before Dunger caught Hales for 40 off Coyle’s bowling to leave the score on 126-5. Yin Lo had Roff stumped by James Havers for 31, Leverett was caught by Dunger off Tom White 28 and the remaining wickets went quickly, leaving Sprowston all out for 198 in the 48th over.

The Cookes of Fakenham man-of-the-match award could only go to David Coyle for his fine knock followed by figures of 3-24.

Fakenham host champions Brooke on Saturday (1pm).