Gloucestershire County League Division One

Cam 191 ao lost to Chipping Sodbury 243-9 by 52 runs

AN improved all round performance was not enough for Cam to clinch their first league win of the season as they fell to a 52 run defeat away to Chipping Sodbury.

Having been asked to field first, Cam’s opening pair of George Dolling and Charlie Viney could only force half chances as Sodbury’s opening pair of James Luscombe and Jake Reed got their side off to a strong start.

Cam had to wait until the 16th over for their first wicket, with the introduction of Sean Rocke accounting for Luscombe who was bowled for 28. Rocke continued his probing spell as he accounted for John Rendell and Bryan Jater, both without scoring, thanks to two successful LBW appeals.

A confident appeal for a caught behind would have given Rocke his fourth but the new Sodbury batsman Tom Makepeace (37) didn’t let it affect him and added 81 in partnership with Reed before the former was run out by a direct hit from Dolling at mid-on.

Ben Holloway was brought on to bowl and had Jamie Rendell (9) caught on the boundary by Alex Ballard, before the pair swapped roles as Ballard dismissed Mason Poole for 1. As Sodbury sought quick runs, Jake Reed was dismissed as he chanced a second run to the arm of Sam Buck only to be run out 7 short of a hard earned century.

Ben Holloway and Ryan Western combined to claim Cam’s third run out, but some lower order hitting from Joshua Morris (27) took Sodbury to a competitive 243-9 from their 45 overs.

Cam’s reply got off to an unusual start as Ryan Malpass top edged a short delivery into his helmet, resulting in the opening batsman having to retire hurt while a cut above the eye was tended to. Jake Dolbear (5) was caught behind early on and Buck (16) was adjudged LBW as Cam lost early wickets. Adam Holloway (16) was out caught soon after, before a partnership between Ballard and Malpass, who returned to the crease following his injury, added 55 for the fourth wicket.

Malpass was stumped on 25 as he looked to attack the spin of Jamie Rendell (3-47), before Ballard (30) was adjudged LBW to the same bowler to leave Cam in trouble on 120-5. Western and Ben Holloway then combined to take Cam past 150 before the later was caught behind for 15. By this point, Western, who was finding and clearing the boundary with regularity, was running out of partners as the required rate continued to rise.

Mason Poole (4-23) returned to the attack for the home side and accounted for Jake Parrott, Dolling and Rocke, all for single figure scores, before Viney was last man out in the 42nd over. Western was left high and dry on 64 not out as Cam fell 52 runs short of their target.