Bristol and District Cricket Association Eighth Division

Alveston 136 ao lost to Thornbury 3rds 137-1 by nine wickets

THORNBURY Thirds made the very short trip round the corner to Alveston CC in a game that pitted fourth against fifth.

It was a must win game for Thornbury to keep the pressure on in the race for promotion, and Simon Weeks won yet another toss and elected to bowl first on a dry pitch.

Player of the Month Dan Botha and Alex Foulner opened the bowling, and Foulner quickly bowled Carroll with a ball that nipped back through the gate.

Alveston's top three have scored a lot of runs this year, and they started to play some expansive shots, one breaking the roof of the Jubilee Hall, until Botha removed Grunshaw for 11 thanks to a great catch from Rhys Price.

Praneel replaced Foulner and, despite a few boundaries, picked up the wicket of Roberts in his first over.

Seeing that the pitch was turning spin was brought on from both ends, and straight after drinks. Weeks had Wistow caught behind and Pearce lbw.

After this, Alveston fell apart, from 102-3 to 136 all out, unbelievably all seven wickets fell to the off-spin of Weeks, finishing with figures of 8.3-0-23-7.

It's fair to say the fielders deserved a huge amount of credit, with Praneel and Luke Messer both taking good catches, and Dan Botha taking a blinder at cow corner, although it would have been a regulation catch if he hadn't charged in and mis-judged the flight.

Thornbury had 15 overs to bat before tea, and Weeks and Praneel were in no danger against some fairly average bowling, until Praneel was caught and bowled by Davis' first ball for 24.

Rhys Price came in at three, and played a really composed innings, rotating the strike and seeing the game home scoring 41 not out in an 80 partnership with Weeks, who finished unbeaten on 67.

It was a strong win for the thirds, who visit third placed Timsbury this Saturday in another big top of the table clash.