GREAT Melton's in-form Sunday side produced another impressive team performance as they defeated table-topping Fakenham in Boyle Division One.Skipper Lee Whiddett had the luxury of a strong looking side and, having won the toss, elected to field.

GREAT Melton's in-form Sunday side produced another impressive team performance as they defeated table-topping Fakenham in Boyle Division One.

Skipper Lee Whiddett had the luxury of a strong looking side and, having won the toss, elected to field.

Jonny Cooper (7-1-31-1) and Justin Stephenson (10-2-32-0) kept things tight early but when P Gray (48) came to the crease and began to hit the ball with venom it became clear that pace off the ball would be needed to restrict scoring opportunities. After 20 overs the game was well balanced with Fakenham 86-1.

The game began to turn Melton's way with the introduction at that stage of Norfolk youngster George Bunn's leg spin. Bunn bowled with beautiful flight and extracted considerable turn, and suddenly the batsmen looked less comfortable. Bunn removed Gray when he trod on his stumps and also removed opener J Hill for 36 before bowling opposing captain Keegan De Ridder (8) .

Fakenham could not break the shackles as wickets continued to tumble to Bunn's excellent bowling and Alex Cooper's spin kept things tight at the other end.

Bunn finished with outstanding figures of 10-0-35-6 as the home side were restricted to 186-7.

In response, Martin Cook was promoted to open the batting with Jonny Cooper to try to give the innings early impetus and he responded magnificently, shrugging off poor early season form with some powerful aerial drives as he made 45 from just 30 balls. Chasing a below par total, Melton were 54-0 from just eight overs and in total command.

Cooper (18) was then trapped in front and Martin Bunn (0) followed in similar fashion shortly after but when Cook was dismissed just short of a deserved half century, Matt Clarke (53 no) and Alex Cooper (57 no) maintained the momentum and always kept the visitors ahead of the asking rate. They eventually recorded an unbroken partnership of 117 as both passed their 50s shortly before Melton reached their target with 11 balls to spare.

This result puts Great Melton into the promotion places ahead of an important fixture with promotion rivals Vauxhall Mallards next Sunday.