Pratt Cup

Kingswood Village (104-7) lost to Tortworth (105-4) by six wickets

THE first round of the 2014 Pratt Cup between Kingswood and Tortworth saw a cat and mouse contest of alternating fortunes.

With a three over per bowler limit, each side conserved their resources for the other's next move.

The first duel of Kingswood's top three batting heavyweights, Ben Foxwell, Rich Wilding and Kev Morgan was won decisively by Tortworth's bowling counterparts, brothers Mike and Al Derham, who quickly removed Foxwell and Wilding.

From then on Morgan (24) and Iain Green (19) won back some initiative.

Tortworth were happy to contain, holding the next strike bowler, Nick Jones, for Kingswood's feared finishers, Vince Taylor, Ollie Madge and Ken Wood.

With the overs ticking away, Tortworth chanced Jones with immediate success, removing Madge (18), Morgan (24), and Rory Thomas (0) in four balls, leaving Vince Taylor and Steve Barnes each on nine and the threat of Wood stranded in the pavilion on a 20-over total of 104-7.

With a similar start, Tortworth were blown away by a 3-2-1-3 spell from Rory Thomas.

Andy Nash's 25 before his removal by Ben Foxwell left Tortworth 75-4 off 15 and the game slightly in Kingwood's favour.

However, 20 more balls with Mike Derham (45) in full flow was enough to swing the match back to Tortworth with a six-wicket win with ten balls to spare.