A man-of-the-match display by all-rounder Henry Rush earned Diss a memorable victory over second-placed Brooke which puts them 10 points clear at the top of the table.

A man-of-the-match display by all-rounder Henry Rush earned Diss a memorable victory over second-placed Brooke which puts them 10 points clear at the top of the table.

Vice-captain Green was quick to praise Rush's performance: “Henry's batting display on Saturday was amazing. You could see today how bad he wanted to win the game for us - he's worked hard at his batting this year and seems to want to prove to people his ability with the bat.”

He added: “For the second week in a row we've chased down a massive total, the spirit and belief within this team now has got us to where we deserve to be.

“With a massive game next week at home to Bradenham, we'll be looking to continue our fine form and push to win the championship and put Diss CC back in the top flight of Norfolk cricket where we belong.”

Diss handed a much-deserved first team debut to 17-year-old Steve Dungar.

Skipper Dave Tooke won the toss and stuck Brooke into bat. Rush picked up a wicket with his seventh ball, getting Cushing caught superbly at slip by Chris Cooper for just six. This brought out Aussie import Vinay Parikh, who set about putting Diss to the sword, amassing a 90-run partnership with Rob Panter.

The partnership was eventually broken when Steve Dungar was rewarded for some fine bowling, skipper Tooke dropped out Simon Cooper to long off, the following ball Panter smashed one straight down Cooper's throat. Another fine partnership was building when Rob Tooke took a breathtaking diving catch off his own bowling to send Timm back to the pavilion.

The big wicket for Diss came when Rob Tooke tempted Parikh to loft a shot to long off where again Simon Cooper snapped up the catch.

With Parikh gone for 100, Diss knew they had a chance of restricting Brooke to less than the 300 they were once facing. Prentice only managed 10 before a magnificent leg-side stumping by Ben Green off Chris Cooper's bowling sent him packing. Andy Ingham was then caught by Chris Cooper off Chris Germon's bowling.

Robert Tooke trapped Habersham lbw for 17. The eighth wicket fell when Germon earned his second wicket, again with the aid of a superb catch from Chris Cooper.

Brooke lost another wicket when Ben Green ran out Hood for 0 for a total of 254.

Liam Brown and Simon Cooper were sent out to face a formidable opening attack of Banham and Habersham, both fell in single figures with Simon Cooper tickling one through to the keeper and Liam Brown being clean bowled.

Pinch hitter Worby was sent out to try and stamp his offensive minded shot selection on the innings, he smashed a big six before being bowled by a low shooting ball from Banham. At 44-3 off nine Diss looked to be in some trouble until Chris Cooper set about, in usual fashion, crashing balls to all parts of the ground.

He and Dave Tooke put on 102 runs in just 15 overs to swing the balance of the game back in Diss' favour. Chris scored his third 50 over the season hitting two massive sixes along the way before he was caught by Hood on 73. Diss needed 100 off 21 overs with both Tooke brothers out in the middle. The two nudged away at the Brooke total leaving Diss in total control.

Tooke was given out lbw for 40. Diss needed 85 to win from 90 balls when Henry Rush walked out to the middle.

Rush looked in fine form right from the start, mixing exquisite fours with the regular singles. With 55 required from the last nine Rob Tooke was bowled.

Mike Tooke and Henry Rush needed 40 off the last six overs. Tooke hit three fours in succession off Habersham until he holed out to Vinay Parikh in the deep for 19.

Green went out to bat for the first time this season. In typical fashion, he looked to blaze Diss to victory but it was his batting partner, Rush, who hit a massive six over the score box followed by two thundering fours to pass his first ever first XI half- century and with the final four claim Diss an epic and crucial win.