Out-of-sorts recently, Diss returned to their winning ways with a nail-biting finish against Topcroft at the Rectory Meadow. For the Alliance Premier match Diss had to do without Will Dawson, suspended for two weeks, having given a luckless Cromer batsman the big send off the previous week.

Out-of-sorts recently, Diss returned to their winning ways with a nail-biting finish against Topcroft at the Rectory Meadow.

For the Alliance Premier match Diss had to do without Will Dawson, suspended for two weeks, having given a luckless Cromer batsman the big send off the previous week.

His scintillating fielding and all-round contributions will be much missed. In his place, Diss welcomed back Henry Rush from his holidays.

Winning the toss and surprising batting first on a glorious day, Topcroft started solidly if slowly.

Germon and Gooderham bowled tightly without success and it took skipper David Tooke to bring himself on to trap Hancock lbw with the score at 48, to be quickly followed by South African Pleissis, another lbw victim to Chris Cooper.

A troublesome stand of 57 was broken by Rob Tooke when he had top scorer Goodfellow brilliantly stamped by Weal for 66.

Mick Tooke had to leave the field with

hamstring trouble to be replaced by an equally brilliant 12th man Ben Green, as Rob Tooke and Chris Cooper worked their way though the middle and lower order.

Simon Cooper chipped in with a wicket, bowling Ian Todd with a beauty. Batty was run out for a duck as the visitors finished on 176 for 9. Considering the lightning-fast field, Diss did well to contain them to what most felt was a gettable score.

Rob Tooke bowled well for his 4-37 as did Chris Cooper taking a couple of wickets in his 13 overs.

Replying, Diss were quickly out of the blocks, a refreshed Rush and partner Brown blazed away from the first over and the score had reached 69 before Brown was bowled by Rofton.

Simon Cooper carried on the good work with fine boundaries in his 27, and when he was out with the score on 143-2, the Rectory Road faithful were making for the bar with the game all but won.

Not so, Rush went for what turned out to be a match-winning 68, scored quickly which enabled the slowcoaches to follow him, to take their time.

Rob Tooke was bowled for 18, but alarm bells began to ring when Chris Cooper and Courridge were both out for one.

Weal went for a duck and a limping Mick Tooke for three and suddenly the home side from a seemingly invincible position found themselves 171 for eight wickets.

A determined skipper Dave Tooke held the bowling together with Gooderham saw Diss home who luckily had overs to spare thanks to the quick-fire opening stand.

This tight finish should give Diss confidence for the visit to Brooke next week, 1pm start.

Scores: Topcroft 176 for 9 wkts (Goodfellow 66, Rob Tooke 4-37). Diss 177 for 8 wkts (H Rush 68, Marshall 4-25. Diss won by two wickets with Diss getting 22 points to Topcroft's seven.

Diss man of the match: Henry Rush.