DESPITE Mundford's best batting display of the season, 219-3, they still ended up on the losing side in a tight game with Acle.On a beautiful, hot sunny day, openers I Harrison and A Bailey were hoping for a solid start but as has been the norm this season, Mundford found themselves in a hole, by losing two quick wickets for only 26 runs.

DESPITE Mundford's best batting display of the season, 219-3, they still ended up on the losing side in a tight game with Acle.

On a beautiful, hot sunny day, openers I Harrison and A Bailey were hoping for a solid start but as has been the norm this season, Mundford found themselves in a hole, by losing two quick wickets for only 26 runs.

But far from going into their shell Mundford started taking the game to Acle.

With some controlled aggression, Bailey along with D White started to make the fielders chase leather all around the outfield!

With the sun baking down, the home side started to wilt under the onslaught of boundaries, flowing from the batsmen's blades.

After reaching a well-deserved half-century captain Bailey went for 56 but that only brought P Brassett to the crease.

With 11 overs still to go and plenty of batsmen still to come, both White and Brassett had a licence to thrill and together they saw Mundford past 200, with sixes and fours flowing everywhere.

Brassett ended up on 34 not out but D White was denied a superb 100 when he was stranded on 96 not out, in a unbeaten partnership of 70.

The total of 219 was a season's best but what would it have been if there was a solid opening stand is anyone's guess!

Acle's reply started badly as R Smeed and A Bailey each grabbed a wicket in the first four overs.

But slowly Acle got back in the game, with a timely third-wicket partnership of 65.

Both Smeed and Bailey kept the lid on the run rate but it was left to the first change bowlers of M Leeder and M Allsop to grab as many wickets as possible to give Mundford a chance of victory.

Not for the first time this season, Leeder bowled superbly without any luck as catches were dropped again and, as Mundford have found out to their cost, catches win matches!

Whilst Leeder toiled away at one end, Allsop came away with three wickets.

With the game still in the balance Leeder got Acle's top batsman, D Ward for 99, which gave Mundford the shot in the arm they needed.

So it was left to the returning opening bowlers to close the game for Mundford but they were unable to do so as Acle got the required 220 to win in the 45th over.