THETFORD first XI finally got their season underway with a more than comfortable 90 run win over fellow strugglers Kirkley and Lowestoft Railway. The Kirkley captain won the toss and put the home side in to bat; which was evidently a very good toss to lose.

THETFORD first XI finally got their season underway with a more than comfortable 90 run win over fellow strugglers Kirkley and Lowestoft Railway.

The Kirkley captain won the toss and put the home side in to bat; which was evidently a very good toss to lose. P Terry and D Newey started the innings well, keeping the run rate on and around five an over. Newey was the first to fall for 27, checking his lofted drive down the throat of mid-off.

L Conroy came, but soon went, falling for seven, the only batsman who failed to make much of a score against the below par Kirkley bowling. M Piggott followed him to the crease with Terry following Conroy back to the pavilion for a painful 49. It was P Mleczek's turn to build a good partnership. The run-rate was maintained and surpassed as well as a solid partnership being built, Piggott scoring 80 and Mleczek 40, as they put on a fourth wicket stand of 98. Mleczek was stumped off the last ball of the innings, closing it on 245 for five wickets.

With a steep hill to climb, Kirkley had a large total to chase with key players missing. C Guy and D Snell departed early, as Thetford openers Lingard and Anderson blitzed through their defences.

Mini-partnerships were created but the batting side never looked threatening as wickets fell around B Willgoss' patient 52.

At times it looked as though Kirkley would be heading for an unconvincing losing draw, however, a combination of S Turner (3-26), J Lingard (2-16) and M Terry (4-32), managed to prise out the lower order resistance. This left Kirkley on 155 all out in the 43rd over.

An all-round performance, with shades Thetford of old, which gave them their first victory of the season.