IT was back down to earth with a bump for Thetford 1st XI as they followed their win the previous week with an all-too-familiar defeat to high- fliers Downham A.

IT was back down to earth with a bump for Thetford 1st XI as they followed their win the previous week with an all-too-familiar defeat to high- fliers Downham A.

Thetford were put into bat and were off to the worst possible start, K Bryanton bowled first ball of the innings by R Badenhorst.

Badenhorst's pace and proved tricky and uncomfortable for the Thetford top order as Newey, Terry and Mleczek followed soon after, leaving Thetford 32-4.

However, L Conroy's grit and P Sparkes' quick hitting steadied the ship for the hosts, putting on 108 for the fifth wicket.

Sparkes eventually fell for 55 and Conroy top scored with a solid score of 61.

M Terry followed them to the crease and with a flurry of big hitting, bolstered the Thetford score with a 10-minute knock of 33 off 18 balls.

The tail didn't put up much resistance, with I Simmons skittling it out by taking 3-15.

This left Thetford with a below- par 185 all out, however this was better than what was projected.

Downham's reply started well, with Skipper, N Gromett and young J Gould opening the innings, putting on 60 for the first wicket.

This built a solid platform for the visitors' overseas player, Badenhorst, to finish the innings off.

A 79 not out and J Coe, chipping in secured a comfortable win for Downham. Despite the low score they were chasing, there was a positive for the bowlers.

J Lingard returned with a very economical 1-23 off 12 and S Turner, Thetford's leading wicket taker, kept this up with 1-30.

The result sadly doesn't reflect Downham's ability as a team, but emphasises their reliance upon an overseas player.