Cricket: Thornbury's Dent in run blitz with county's Hodnett (From Gazette Series)

Thornbury CC v Gloucestershire CCC Select XI

9:42am Thursday 30th April 2009 in Sport

THORNBURY'S pre-season fixtures continued on Saturday with a run-soaked wind-blown fixture against a select Gloucestershire County XI - which ironically included four regular Thornbury players.

Spectators were treated to probably the highest opening partnership at the club’s historic ground as Grant Hodnett and Thornbury’s on-loan Chris Dent smashed 358 undefeated runs in a blistering display of hitting power. Hodnett reached his double century in the final over, with Dent undefeated on 140, his highest adult score.

At the tea interval, Gloucestershire’s Director of Cricket John Bracewell formally opened the recently completed outdoor net facility at the Club.

He said: “It was very encouraging to see a progressive club providing such excellent facilities for both its established players and its up and coming youngsters.”

Erected with funding assistance from the English Cricket Board, the new nets provide Thornbury with one of the finest practice facilities in the area.

The game resumed with Thornbury’s batters unable to match the earlier pyrotechnics.

However, Juvaunie Gayle, with a beautifully constructed 95, well supported by captain Richard Trotman with 31 and Alex Reid with 21, saw Thornbury’s innings finish on a respectable 199. There were also encouraging home debuts for Stephen Caple and Greg Stephens.