LOWESTOFT warmed up for the start of the league season tomorrow, with an impressive 71 run victory over north Suffolk rivals Beccles at Denes Oval on Sunday.

LOWESTOFT warmed up for the start of the league season tomorrow, with an impressive 71 run victory over north Suffolk rivals Beccles at Denes Oval on Sunday.

In difficult overcast conditions, Lowestoft skipper Matt Reid won the toss and elected to bat - but his side were soon struggling at 6-2 as openers Matt Patnell and Joe Larter both departed.

Former skipper Nathan Garrod then teamed up with teenage talent Dom Smith to steady the ship, and the pair staged a fine recovery act.

They combined in an excellent partnership, seeing off the opening Beccles pair and went onto flourish until Smith was cruelly run out for a 'tremendous knock' of 38, according to Reid.

Young Tom Brice then entered the fray, and after a recent productive spell in New Zealand he quickly raised the temperatures with some high-class shots in a 'top class innings' of 47.

With Garrod moving on serenely at the other end to make a top scoring 61, Lowestoft made 192-8 after their 40 overs, with M Fisher (4-40) the pick of the Beccles bowlers.

T Brice started with the ball where he left off with the bat as he produced a 'hostile spell,' which 'beat the edge on numerous occasions,' according to Lowestoft captain Reid.

The skipper himself provided good support in a miserly opening blast and final flourish, which led to figures of 1-3 off six overs as Beccles closed on 121-6 after their allotted overs.

'It was a good all round display in our last match before the league season starts,' skipper Reid said after the game.

Tomorrow Lowestoft are in league action tomorrow, with the first team at home to Downham and the A team away to Beccles.

SCORECARD

Lowestoft

M PatnellBowledM Fisher3

J LarterCt G WrightM Fisher0

N GarrodBowledI Ruddock61

D SmithRun Out38

T BriceBowledM Fisher47

K StoreyBowledM Fisher4

M BishopRun Out6

B BriceNotOut10

ChandikaRun Out1

J NewmanNot Out1

Extras:21

Total 192-8

Beccles Bowling

M Fisher100404

D Turrell102360

T Hunter70260

D George50280

I Ruddock50311

R Clemence30260

Beccles

R C PorterCt M PatnellT Brice0

T HunterBowledB Brice3

R J PorterCt B BriceT Brice2

R TurrellBowledM Reid11

R ClemenceL.B.WN Garrod48

N WarnesCt M ReidM Bishop1

I RuddockNotOut32

G WrightNotOut4

Extras:20

Total:121-6

Lowestoft Bowling

T Brice104102

M Reid6431

B Brice30191

Chandika40280

M Bishop82241

J Newman50180

N Garrod40141

Sunrise Inn MoM: T Brice.