NETHERFIELD crashed to a surprise 73-run home defeat to lowly St Annes who battled back from an early collapse to pick up just their second win of the season.

Marc Brown's side appeared to be well in control as the visitors slumped to 29-4 only for Matthew Taaffe and Geeth Malinda to put together a match winner 96-run partnership as St Annes recovered to 218-9 at the close.

And despite a fine knock of 76 by professional Dieter Klein, Netherfield were bowled out for 145 to slip to a second successive defeat.

After winning the toss and putting St Annes in, Netherfield made a stunning start as they despatched of South African professional Xander Pitchers, who picked out Joe Portman off the bowling of Dieter Klein.

The visitors toiled throughout the early stages of the game, as Timothy Le Bretons attempted strike was caught by Tom Williamson off Mark Clarkson's delivery, before Nathan Armstrong and Adam Holt both fell to Nathan Chambers, as Brown claimed the catch of Armstrong.

And when Holt was caught by Ben Barrow. Netherfield were well on top as St Annes toiled on 29-4.

However, after making such a good start, St Annes fought back thanks to a fifth wicket stand between Malinda and Taaffe.

The partnership pushed the visitors along to 125 before Netherfield finally made the breakthrough when Malinda was caught and bowled by Klein for 70 off 67 balls.

Both Taaffe and Thomas Bradley stuck around with Netherfield becoming increasingly frustrated as the visitors were now racing along to 185. The Field finally got the wicket of opening batsman Taaffe who was bowled by Nathan Chambers for 69 off 123 balls.

Brad Earl then ran out Thomas Bradley for 21 off 38 balls, before Nathan Chambers claimed his fourth wicket as Jake Higson picked out Ryan Wilson for 2. Chambers returning figures of 4-64.

The visitors finished on 218-9, Matthew Grindley the last man out, run out for 22 off 20 balls.

The reply didn’t start well for Brown's team as Ben Barrow only lasted five balls before being bowled by Matthew Grindley for 0 as Netherfield were on 0-1.

And there was further trouble for the hosts as Brown was run out by Matthew Grindley for 12, before Rick Potter was caught and balled by Pitchers for 18 off 34 balls.

Netherfield's struggling along on 36-3, were in an even bigger mess when John Huck was bowled by Matthew Grindley for four off 16 balls, before Brad Earl was clean bowled for one byPitchers.

Tom Williamson then got ran out for 0 with Netherfield on the brink at 78-6.

South African paid man Klein attempted to keep the innings together as he and Chambers put on a seventh wicket stand.

With a recovery looking likely, the visitors gained complete control when Chambers big hit for six off Pitchers was well picked out by Thomas Bradley who did well to take the catch. Chambers 20 runs coming off 49 balls.

St Annes continued to press as Clarkson's attempted drive was picked out by Matthew Grindley off the bowling of Taaffe before Klein fell for 76 off 84 balls as Nathan Armstrong caught him with Grindley getting his third wicket as he closed with figures of 3-59.

The game was over when Ryan Wilson fell to a direct hit for one, as Netherfield were bowled out for 145 in 39.5 overs.