GCCL Division Two

Slaughters Utd (237-8) lost to Stone (239-2) by eight wickets

A SUPERB unbroken third wicket partnership of 117 between Pete Lavis and Dave Jones secured Stone's first win of the season as they chased down a target of 238 with ten overs to spare at Slaughters.

It was fitting that the winning runs were hit by Lavis when he bludgeoned a four over cover to finish on 110 not out.

Having won the toss, Stone captain Alan Sherman put the hosts into bat.

A flurry of runs off the bowling of Tom Boroughs (0-45) and James Barnes saw the hosts race to 103 in the 21st over.

The introduction of Rich Boroughs (2-37) into the bowling attack seemed like a mistake as his first five balls went for 14 runs, but he then made the breakthrough when he had Mark Saunders brilliantly caught at slip by Jones for 53.

In his following over, Boroughs struck again when he had Wayne Rose stumped by wicketkeeper Pete Booth for 59.

This seemed to lift Stone and Ian Hall was soon rewarded for his tight bowling as he had Angus Hayward caught behind for nought.

Some hard hitting from Nathan Wilson and Philip Chappel (23) kept the scoreboard ticking over at pace until the former was caught by Lavis for 27 off the bowling of Hall, who finished his spell with figures of 9-5-11-2.

Runs continued to flow at a steady rate but wickets fell at regular intervals with Sherman (1-35), Barnes (1-65) and Lavis (2-38) all contributing.

The Stone response started briskly as openers of Lavis and Rich Boroughs pushed the ball around with relative ease and Lavis in particular despatching anything loose to the boundary.

The score raced to 81 in the 12th over but a rash shot across the line from Boroughs saw him bowled for 23.

Lavis brought up his half-century shortly after being joined by Pete Booth as they both worked the ball around.

With the score on 123 in the 18th over, a moment of madness from Lavis saw him call a run that was never on and left Booth a good way short, which left him run out for 28.

Jones looked to eat into the target from the outset, racing to 20 in no time.

Lavis continued tormenting the Slaughters bowling attack by picking gaps in the field and completed his hundred from 83 balls.

Jones played a brilliant supporting role and was rewarded when he brought up his 50 from 47 deliveries, ending 52 not out to see Stone to a brilliant win.

Stone's focus now turns to Hatherley and Reddings thirds, who head to Swanley on Saturday.