Old Buckenham bounced back from an opening day defeat when they beat North Runcton by four wickets in the Norfolk Alliance Premier Division.

Skipper Perry won the toss and elected to bat with cloudy conditions overhead in west Norfolk.

Bucks opening pair of Meredith and Pentz made the home side's openers work hard and after plenty of playing and missing, Pentz got his reward, the big South African taking Skipper's outside edge.

Pentz then picked up another two wickets, castling Barrett and then finding the prolific Robinson's outside edge, caught brilliantly at second slip by Shearing.

The next pairing of Norfolk player Coote and Rawlings put on 70 runs over the next 25 overs, Coote doing most of the damage, but when Rawlings was finally out, stumped by Goodwin off the new bowler Thurley, North Runcton's lower order was exposed.

Thurley picked up another two quickly, one caught each by Goodwin and Pentz, and then Lawrence got both Cubbitt and Ring. Coote finished 77 not out but his side could only muster 163-8 from their 50 overs.

Bucks felt that this was at least 50 under par on a good wicket but then they lost three quick wickets, all caught behind from lifting deliveries to Ben Skipper.

This left Bucks on 35-3 with an in-form Thurley at the crease and Heaney looking to provide support. The pairing saw off the new ball threat and settled into their business, ticking the score over at the required rate.

The pair looked like they would easily complete the victory after seeing the return of Coote and Skipper off. However Annakin's first ball removed Thurley for a brilliant 46 and broke the 87-run partnership. Two balls later the same bowler dismissed Shearing second ball lbw and when Meredith departed lbw to Skipper this saw the away side collapse from 119-4 to 122-6 and still needing 43 runs to win.

Nevertheless vice-captain Lawrence's counteracting blitz and Heaney's continued determined innings saw Bucks over the line in the 40th over.

Lawrence finished 35 not out off 22 balls and Heaney finished 32 not out from 74 balls to complete the 21-point victory and an important win for the away side.

Old Buckenham are at home to Downham Town on Saturday.