Diss now find themselves only six points off second place in the Norfolk Alliance Premier Division after completing a brilliant six-wicket win away to Lowestoft Town.

Diss now find themselves only six points off second place in the Norfolk Alliance Premier Division after completing a brilliant six-wicket win away to Lowestoft Town.

Man-of-the-match Rob Tooke made up for his brothers absence with a devastating all round display, firstly by bowling an economical 13-over spell with the ball, and then smashing in entertaining 71 in just 69 balls.

Skipper, Simon Cooper, kept with the winning formula of winning the toss and bowling first, and was rewarded with a wicket in the fifth over as Chris Germon clean bowled Ryan De Cotaeu for just six.

This brought run-machine Mpho Sekhoto to the crease, and he immediately made his presence felt by smashing a big six over mid-wicket.

In usual fashion Diss turned to their spin bowlers after ten overs, this decision was soon to bear fruit as Rob Tooke accounted for J Larter (25).

In the very next over Chris Cooper removed N Garrod (1) as he chipped tamely to brother Simon in the leg-side.

Sekhoto looked set for his fifth consecutive century, as he was given two lives by some very generous wicketkeeping by Will Dawson, but the big wicket eventually came as Chris Cooper took a fantastic caught and bowled to dismiss the overseas professional for 59.

At 103-4 Lowestoft completely lost their way. Cooper took his third wicket by bowling D Smith (17) with a vicious turning delivery. Cooper then teamed with Dawson to run out P Sims, and as the spin twins finished their thirteen over spells Lowestoft had fell to 131-6.

The last four wickets were evenly split by Henry Rush and Mark Williamson, as they polished off the tail.

Rush did well to exploit some reverse swing, and the latter continued his impressive run in the first eleven by wrapping up the innings in the 49th over as Lowestoft succumbed to 163 all out.

A decent opening partnership was vital if Diss were to complete a successful run chase, so when James Wilby and Henry Rush successfully negotiated the first ten overs there seemed little to perturb Diss from their third successive victory.

But a terrible six overs saw Diss fall from 44-0 to 57-3 as Wilby (29), Simon Cooper (0), and Rush (18) all fell to their demise. This brought Benji Spinks together with Rob Tooke, and together they played some breathtaking cricket.

Young Spinks played with maturity beyond his years, as he held up an end, and rotated the strike which allowed Tooke to flourish as he smashed ten fours and two humungous sixes in his innings of 71.

Tooke fell with just two runs required for victory, but Spinks (35no) suitably crashed the very next ball for four, to see Diss home with 10 overs to bat, and in doing so handing them their first win away to Lowestoft for many years.

Diss 166-4 (R Tooke 71, B Spinks 35no) beat Lowestoft 163 (C Cooper 3-40, H Rush 2-13) by six wickets.

n Diss CC embark on their annual tour of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire next week with games against local teams Bredon and Overbury on July 20 and 21. The tour party will be based at Cheltenham.

Mellis beat Earl Stonham by 159 runs in Hunts County Bats Suffolk Cricket League, Division Two.