Bank House Gloucestershire County League Division Two

Oldlands (152 for 7) beat Poulton (149 all out) by three wickets

OLDLANDS eventually came out on top of a nail-biting encounter at Abwell on Saturday, in a match that ebbed and flowed throughout and that was in doubt right until the final over.

Bobby Woolams ultimately was the match-winner with a magnificent unbeaten 42.

Showing exemplary match awareness, his combination of solid defence and belligerent attack showed how to chase down a total in a tight situation.

On winning the toss, the home side batted and another threatening opening spell from Dave Walton (two for 49) and Pete Waite (one for 20), backed up well by Brad Thomas (three for 27), Steve Pennington (two for 22), Stuart Reeves (one for 21) and Dave Brookes (one for 6) and a high quality fielding performance, saw the visitors in trouble at 92 for 8.

However, an impressive 46 from Luke Newman finally saw Poulton through to a below par, but competitive 149 in the 38th over.

With Nick Grove in imperious form at the top of the order though, the challenge appeared to be a comfortable one as Oldlands glided serenely to 48 without loss after ten overs, before Grove was dismissed for forty.

The visitors clawed their way back into the match and drying up the runs so that only 13 came from the next ten overs.

And with the quick loss of Doug Walton, the in-form Thomas and Brookes, the match was back in the balance.

The loss of Tom Paterson and the run out of Waite meant Poulton were favourites but Woolams saved it with unbroken partnership of with skipper Pennington.