Diss suffered their first Norfolk Alliance Division One defeat in 12 games at the hands of an in-form Stow side.

Skipper Mark Williamson lost the toss, with the away side opting to bat first on a good surface. Openers Daniel Taylor (1-62) and Chris Cooper started tightly as Stow progressed to 34-0 off nine overs.

However, Diss were unable to make any inroads early on and Stow openers Keith Thomson and William Denny put on a century stand for the first wicket.

The breakthrough finally came when Robert Tooke (1-27) had Thomson caught by Chris Cooper for 65. Diss couldn't add to that as Denny and new partner Tom High kept the scoreboard ticking.

The returning Cooper (2-40) bowled High for 31 and then trapped Thomas Davey lbw the next ball. Edward Landymore (13) was the next to go after a sublime catch from the skipper off D Taylor, but no-one could stop Denny who brought up a deserved hundred.

There was also a wicket and a run-out for Barnaby Chenery in the final over, bowling Otto Esse for 13, but Stow closed on 279-6. Denny carried his bat and finished unbeaten on 127 (151 balls).

A total of 280 was always going be a marathon for the home side, and they immediately lost momentum when Cooper (4) was bowled by Jamie Cook. David Tooke (18) looked good early on but also lost his stumps to Cook (2-14) after going back to a ball that kept low. Chenery (0) came and went, leaving Diss in big trouble on 35-3. L Taylor and R Tooke briefly steadied the ship but the former was caught on the boundary off Brassett (2-29) for 13.

Mark Brawn (17) had a brief cameo but became the fourth batsman to be bowled. D Taylor was then lbw for one so R Tooke decided to go big, and hit a succession of boundaries. He brought up his sixth half century of the season but then miscued a full toss straight back to Steven Moulton for 55.

With the help of Williamson (17 not out), batting down the order due to illness, Diss managed to scramble to 159 all out, getting an extra batting point, but were well-beaten.

The result does not affect Diss' current position, but they have no game this weekend and are just 12 points above Swardeston A and Dereham. Diss will host Lowestoft Town in two weeks at Rectory Meadow in their final game.