AFTER four straight defeats, Oldlands have managed to get back to winning ways again.

On Saturday at Abwell, they took a hard fought and well deserved win against high flying Hatherley and Reddings seconds.

On winning the toss, home skipper Steve Pennington had no hesitation in electing to bat first and the opening partnership of Brad Thomas and Nick Grove, who have been in fine form this summer, were soon into their stride against a testing opening attack.

Besides being solid and resolute in defence, the pair were also quick to pounce on any scoring opportunity and had taken the score to 84, before the introduction of off-spinner Robertshaw saw Grove deceived in the flight and stumped for 36.

Dave Brookes then joined Thomas and kept the score accelerating nicely in a stand of 76 before Brookes, in trying to manufacture a shot that wasn’t really on, gave a simple catch to mid-wicket.

With intent now required and a score in excess of 250 looking likely, the home side lost their way a little and as the quick wickets of Thomas, another impressive innings, this time of 83, Doug Walton (6), Bobby Woolams (5) and Dave Walton (6) saw the momentum stall.

It was left to Pete Waite with a quick fire unbeaten 16 and Tim Thomas (7 not out) to regain some of the initiative and see their side to what was generally considered a par score of 238.

On an excellent wicket for batting and with a lightening fast outfield, the visitors must have fancied their chances of achieving their target.

That view can only then have been enhanced by a solid start from Carter (39) and Nickell (27), who had just started to accelerate and look very threatening when the introduction of Brad Thomas (2-23) into the attack saw him dismiss both openers in an excellent nine over spell.

In tandem with Pennington (3-20) at the other end, the flow of runs began to dry up and the pressure swing onto the visiting batsmen.

Some excellent ground fielding from Marvin Bidder and notable catches from Thomas and Tom Paterson in the deep, who also brought off a brilliant run out, saw regular wickets check the momentum, but some hard hitting lower down the order from Mirza Mahmud and former Oldlands favourite Oli Halford kept the result in doubt and the large crowd on the edge of their seats right until the end.

And that end was finally brought about pretty quickly by a superb piece of bowling from Waite.

With three overs still remaining and the dangerous Halford looking threatening at the crease, Waite produced a series of block hole yorkers to take the final two wickets and see Oldlands over the line to an exciting victory in what was an excellent game of cricket played by both sides in an excellent spirit.