NINE-MAN Thetford A put in a spirited display, but slipped to a narrow defeat away to Swardeston CEYMS.Thetford skipper Gavin Siriwardena was fortunate to win a first toss of the season to ask Swardeston to field on a punishingly hot afternoon.

NINE-MAN Thetford A put in a spirited display, but slipped to a narrow defeat away to Swardeston CEYMS.

Thetford skipper Gavin Siriwardena was fortunate to win a first toss of the season to ask Swardeston to field on a punishingly hot afternoon.

Karl Harris fell early, slicing a drive to cover, but Siriwardena and Andy Kerling settled, fending off some probing bowling from Swardeston's Rob Micklethwaite and Josh Waterman and putting on 57 for the second wicket.

Siriwardena (23) was then a little unlucky to be bowled by a Tom Snelling full toss that rebounded off his foot, but Kerling and Simon Lewis continued to milk an attack that was starting to wilt.

But then Kerling (30) and Lewis (a typically rapid 28) fell to Snelling (4-28) and they were 106-4. However, this brought Keith Greyson to the crease an he took the attack to Swardeston with a string of boundaries. Simon Richards went cheaply, but Sam Turner gave Greyson support as the total hit 170-6.

Turner (14) mis-hit to cover, and then Greyson (41) was caught at long-off trying to repeat a towering straight six. Thetford's shortfall of personnel was then exposed as Stuart Terry was left stranded when Matt Kerling was lbw in the 40th over, ending Thetford's innings and, critically, extending Swardeston's allotment of overs to 52.

Thetford had posed a challenging target of 183, but still needed to bowl well.

Sam Turner bowled tightly while Matt Kerling overcame a shaky start to find useful movement and restrict openers Tim Smith and Tom Snelling. Turner bowled Snelling, but further break-throughs proved elusive until Jason Reynolds miscued Gavin Siriwardena to midwicket. From 53-2, however, Thetford struggled to find further penetration.

Turner, Kerling and Keith Greyson bowled economically. Smith and Rob Micklethwaite made smooth progress towards their target. At 170-2, Simon Lewis pouched a great catch off the inside edge to dismiss Smith for 69 and give Siriwardena (2-56) a second wicket.

Turner forced Micklethwaite (59) to miscue to cover and Greyson (1-44) won a deserved lbw, but it was too little, too late as Swardeston reached their target.

Thetford A: K Harris c Smith b Waterman 1, G Siriwardena b Snelling 23, A Kerling c Micklethwaite b Snelling 30, S Lewis c Bartram b Snelling 28, K Greyson c Dawling b Waterman 42, S Richards b Micklethwaite 4, S Turner c Snelling b Micklethwaite 14, S Terry not out 2, M Kerling lbw b Snelling 0; extras 33. Total 182. Bowling: R Micklethwaite 10-0-45-2, J Waterman 12-1-51-2, T Snelling 10.2-3-28-4, S Bartram 8-0-41-0.

Swardeston CEYMS: T Smith c Lewis b Siriwardena 69, T Snelling b Turner 15, J Reynolds c Turner b Siriwardena 11, R Micklethwaite c A Kerling b Turner 59, L Gooderham lbw Greyson 0, S Dorling not out 1, J Waterman not out 7; extras 19. Total (5 wkts) 183. Bowling: S Turner 13-4-27-2, M Kerling 13-2-39-0, G Siriwardena 9.2-0-55-2, K Greyson 10-1-43-1, A Kerling 1-0-9-0.