Berkeley spirit truly lives on (From Gazette Series)

Berkeley spirit truly lives on

Cricket Friendly Stone v Berkeley

BERKELEY CC proved they are still alive and kicking following a one-wicket victory over local rivals Stone.

Stone openers Pete Booth and Henry Ball displayed some assured strokes but Berkeley's opening bowlers Nick Jones and Dunc McAlmont retaliated with three early wickets.

Pete Lavis and Miles Palmer steadied the ship for Stone but just as the partnership looked like taking the game out of Berkeley's reach Lavis was caught for 57.

Sam Harris joined Palmer in the middle to up the run rate before Alan Sherman caught Palmer for 34.

With Harris run out for 38 shortly afterwards and further wickets taken by Skippy Ruther and Don Erwood, Stone finished on 190-9.

The Berkeley reply began disastrously when Ruther was stumped in Vicky Ball's first over, with Chris Armstrong closely following courtesy of a deadly Adrian Cook delivery.

Erwood (42) got the Berkeley innings back on course, with Kiwi talent Darren Isaac (51) supporting the assault on the Stone bowlers.

Lavis and Booth caused havoc with the ball through the lower order but the vastly experienced Richie Phillips (17) guided the visitors nearer their target, leaving Sherman to stroke the winning runs in the final over to end a good humoured and very closely contested match.