Tip-top Tipper shows the way (From Gazette Series)

Tip-top Tipper shows the way

Cam v Cheltenham Saracens

CAM steamrollered Cheltenham Saracens to return to winning ways in the most convincing style.

Opening bowlers Matt Tipper and Chris Livall performed superbly to skittle the visitors out for 58 - a total that the hosts surpassed for the loss of just three wickets.

Cam captain Pete Hall was pleased to end his side's losing run at one.

"It is very nice to bounce back after the disappointment of last week," he said.

"Matt Tipper and Chris Livall bowled magnificently today and they were supported by some excellent fielding.

"We also batted very sensibly when it would have been easy to panic."

In truth, the result rarely looked in doubt from the moment Saracens opener Gunn dragged a third over delivery from Tipper onto his stumps for just one.

Fellow opener Miller (6) soon skied Tipper to the safe hands of Hall and then Raven was run out without scoring by a direct hit from the irrepressible Tipper at short fine leg.

Finch and Giles briefly steadied the ship for the visitors but, after clubbing two fine fours, Giles swung horribly across the line to Livall and went lbw for eight.

Despite the constant drizzle, Tipper then bowled Donner for six and when Livall bamboozled Finch (7) with a slower ball the score was 30-6.

Viles and Rayson at least got Saracens past 50 but, just when a face-saving partnership looked on, Livall produced a double-wicket maiden to account for Rayson (6) and next man Ramasani (0).

It was left to Tipper to wrap things up and claim a five-wicket haul.

He bowled danger man Viles (19) before somewhat fortuitously bowling last man Gascoigne first ball with a full toss.

The target of 59 looked easy enough but Cam hearts began to flutter early on as the departures of Hall (4) and Adam Holloway (0) left their side on 8-2.

However, the rapidly maturing Scott Kalus (21*) and old heads Graeme Brown (11) and Dave Cotterell (15*) steered the home side to a comfortable victory.

Kalus ran excellently between the wickets, while Cotterell timed the ball wonderfully, especially on the leg side.

The winning runs came from Cotterell, superbly carving a late cut through the gully region for four.