DISS A edged out Beccles in a tense encounter at Rectory Meadow on Saturday. The team now looks forward to the first of two clashes with Rocklands away next week.

DISS A edged out Beccles in a tense encounter at Rectory Meadow on Saturday.

The team now looks forward to the first of two clashes with Rocklands away next week.

Returning skipper Dave Williman jumped at the chance of batting first on home turf, convinced that a crumbling pitch would do favours for the Diss spinners coming into play later in the game.

Keeper-batsman Jamie Allen was moved into an opening role alongside Tom Catalano, and it was Catalano himself that failed to trouble the scorers, perishing for a nine-ball duck.

Mark Williamson joined Allen at the crease, and looked effervescent until he found himself on the wrong end of a stinker of a decision from the umpire.

Tim Courridge's vibrancy was needed to refresh the innings as Allen was struggling to keep the scoreboard ticking over at the other end.

Whilst Courridge was archetypal in finding the boundary, Allen was put out of his misery for eight. Standing at 27-3, up stepped the captain,

Despite the loss of Courridge for 19, Williman executed the perfect captain's knock, finally out after bringing up his half-century, in the process receiving a decent contribution from Charles Pask (20). Diss ended up on a competitive total of 149-8.

In reply, Beccles were shell-shocked as both Jack Bell and Jody Sparrow picked up wickets in their respective opening overs - Sparrow especially delighted to remove danger man Ruddock for nought after serving up a buffet of bad deliveries the week before.

Slowly but surely, the scorecard crawled along to 35-2 off 16 overs. Williamson (2-20) and Courridge bowled many maiden to apply the pressure and Beccles, to their credit, handled it,

There were significant contributions from Hunter, who led a charmed life for 46, Clarke (34) and Warnes (27).

At 109-4 off 38 overs, the asking rate was just over five which was at the time eminently manageable. However, Williman knew he still had overs to come from Bell and Sparrow.

In the middle of the confusion, Sparrow claimed two more deserved victims, in particular the key wicket of captain Clarke who was expertly taken by Williamson at long-off.

Suddenly Diss were right in with a chance, and this was in no small part down to the standard of fielding on display, good captaincy and the minimal amount of extras conceded.

Set for a thrilling climax for the many in attendance, Beccles needed six to win off the last over and it was Sparrow to bowl.

A famous victory was sealed when needing two off the last ball, Harber could only find himself run out, going for the tie.

Final score: Diss A 149-8, Beccles A 148-8.