A DiSS team, relatively inexperienced, were dumped out of the Carter Cup in the first round as they were outplayed by Alliance Premier League high-flyers Sprowston, losing by 94 runs.

Diss lost the toss and found themselves taking the field first, and got off to a fantastic start with Robert West and James Shepherd causing the Sprowston openers all sorts of problems.

Shepherd soon accounted for Palmer with a searing in-swinging yorker, and Purton followed soon after to the same bowler and the same method of dismissal.

Robbie West was next to get in on the act as he had P Glozier trapped in front for 15.

Wickets continued to fall as the Chris Cooper had Leverett (8) trapped in front, and then his brother enticed Murrell (21) into a false shot, with Will Dawson taking a sharp chance in the gully. With Sprowston five down an upset was on the cards, but the next three wickets were Diss' downfall as they came at a cost of 180 runs.

Handy (67), Chipperfield (56), and Roff (40) combined to swing the match back in Sprowston's favour.

Diss gave eight different bowlers a chance to stem the flow of runs and Dawson obliged with three wickets in a six-over spell as the Sprowston tail were looking to push the score up to 300.

With the other two wickets to fall split between a Simon Cooper run- out, and Mark Williamson, the visitors were eventually bowled out for 291 in the 59th over.

In reply, although runs were flowing easily enough, Diss lost wickets at regular intervals throughout their innings.

At tea Diss were 96 for seven with Will Dawson (MoM) not out on 40. With Tebble (2) falling shortly after lunch, Robbie West joined Dawson at the crease.

Their partnership was a face- saving one for Diss as the pair put on almost 100 for the ninth wicket in an entertaining stand.

Dawson's marathon innings came to an end when he holed out to Handy for 93 after batting for two and a half-hours.

West followed three balls later for a gutsy 33, as Diss were bowled out for 197 runs, 95 short of their target.

Diss first team's great start to the Alliance Premier Division campaign came to a grinding halt as they lost to Cromer at the Rectory Meadow on Saturday.

An abject performance with bat, ball and in the field left Diss with very few positives to take out of the game. The one exception to the rule was Rob Tooke (MoM), who put in an excellent all-round display, taking five wickets and scoring 46 runs.

Fielding first, Diss got off to a promising start as, not for the first time this year, Germon struck early having Davies (8) well caught by D Tooke.

A frustrating 50-run partnership followed between Kimber (41) and Carius (16) as Diss bowled loosely and fielded carelessly.

Rob Tooke saw the back of both batsman in close succession as D Tooke and Ben Spinks clung on to difficult chances.

As Diss started to get the upper hand more complacency crept into their game. Charlwood and K Tuck were severe on anything loose and together put on 95 for the fourth wicket. It was down to Rob Tooke again to see off both men, firstly catching Tuck (36) off his own bowling, and then Charlwood (56) was smartly stumped by Weal.

With only eight overs remaining the incoming Cromer batsman were happy to throw caution to the wind in search of a big score and quick runs.

Rob Tooke completed a five-wicket haul in his last over, with his brother, David, taking his third catch of the day. And a fine run-out by Simon Cooper couldn't stop a late flurry of runs as Cromer ended on 216 for seven.

On a decent pitch and a lightning-fast outfield Diss were still in with a very good shout, but their reply started terribly as the returning James Wilby gloved behind in only the second ball of the innings. Diss soon found themselves reeling at 15 for three, with Spinks and Chris Cooper back in the hutch for next to nothing between them.

Diss started to repair their innings via a partnership between Simon Cooper (26) and Rob Tooke, but just as the game was starting to swing back, a series of wickets left Diss at 100 for six.

An excellent 50-run partnership followed between the gallant and injured David Tooke (30) and Mark Williamson (25) but it wasn't quite enough as yet another flurry of wickets left Diss all out for 162.

Diss will be looking to get back to winning ways on Saturday, as they travel to undefeated Fakenham.

Cromer: T Davies c D Tooke b Germon 8, O Kimber c-b R Tooke 41, M Carius c Spinks b R Tooke 16, R Charlwood st Weal b R Tooke 56, K Tuck c-b R Tooke 36, G Neale c D Tooke b R Tooke 12, K Neale run out 20, K Regis not out 4, A Robinson not out 9; extras 14. Total (7 wkts) 216. Bowling: C Germon 9-3-31-1, S Shepherd 4-1-26-0, R Tooke 13-1-45-5, C Cooper 10-2-40-1, M Williamson 7-0-31-0, S Cooper 7-1-40-0.

Diss: J Wilby c Kimber b Robinson 0, B Spinks b Robinson 3, S Cooper c Tuck b K Neale 26, C Cooper c Carius b J Craske 0, R Tooke c Kimber b Carius 46, W Dawson c J Craske b K Neale 8, D Tooke c Tuck b J Craske 30, M Williamson c Kimber b Carius 25, S Shepherd c Kimber b Robinson 0, T Weal c Kimber b J Craske 3, C Germon not out 0; extras 21. Total 162. Bowling: A Robinson 8-2-21-3, J Craske 12.5-2-28-3, K Regis 2-0-23-0, M Carius 12-1-43-2, K Neale 9-3-46-2.