Cricket: Tyler brothers guide Rockhampton to safety line (From Gazette Series)

Glos Wilts Division 1st XI: Rockhampton (262-5) beat Gloucester City Winget (175-8) by 87 runs

5:04pm Wednesday 26th August 2009 in Sport

ROCKHAMPTON extinguished the remote possibility of being sucked into the relegation battle on the final day of the season.

The Rams emphatically rose to the occasion with a ruthless win that firms up the fifth place spot they currently occupy.

The home side batted first and lost an early wicket when Rowan Cartlidge (7) was harshly adjudged caught behind down the leg side.

Jeremy White and Matt Tyler negotiated a decent opening spell from Wilshaw and Morris before White (29) slapped a wide long-hop straight to cover.

Simon Hore (17) again looked in good touch, but top-edged a bouncer to square leg.

Will and Matt Tyler put on 75 in good time when the latter also top-edged a Morris short ball to fine-leg to depart for a well-paced 84.

Will Cartlidge was promoted up the order and obliged with a quick-fire 31 from 22 balls.

Will Tyler accumulated a run-a-ball 61 not out and Nigel Hopkins (10*) hit a monstrous six off the final ball to leave Rocks well placed.

GCW progressed to 50-0, but the introduction of Chris Pearce (9-2-25-2) quickly changed the game as he induced an edge from Howell (22), and clean bowled Driver-Dickerson (22).

Spinner Charlie Turrell bowled an excellent controlled spell of 15-2-43-3.

Jack Spence (9-1-26-1) also got in on the act as wickets began to fall at regular intervals, and Will Cartlidge (11-4-25-1) returned at the death but was unable to remove the final two batsmen as GCW finished on 175-8.

The Septemberfest will be returning to the Boundary Field on 19 September for an entertaining evening of music, children’s entertainment, food and drink.

More details are available on the club website rockhamptoncc.com.

Glos Wilts Division 2nd XI Gloucester City Winget (174-5) beat Rockhampton 2s (173-7) by five wickets

A scintillating unbeaten century from Mark Beale brought up on the last ball of Rockhampton’s innings was not enough to beat a high-flying Gloucester City.

Batting first, stand-in skipper Jimmy Cooke made a resilient 32 after Long had been dismissed for just two.

Cooke and Beale shared a partnership of 56 before Beale single-handedly stole the show.

He drove powerfully through cover and was typically strong off his legs making a steady 50 before accelerating in the last ten overs.

Belbin added a brisk 12 but others found runs hard to come by.

In response, Jones took an early wicket with Twemlow collecting the steepling catch.

As Sammy Nichols and Rob Cave struggled the skipper turned to Beale, who bowled with flight and guile, collecting 2-41 in his 13 overs, dismissing both Collinson brothers, the first lbw and the second smartly caught and bowled.

When Jones (2-32) then got Carter with the assist of a brilliant reflex catch by Fraser at gully, the hosts were 99-4.

Cooke missed a difficult catch deputising behind the stumps and Nick Price went on to get a composed 57 not out to see the hosts home.

Matt Wright bowled Hathaway for a consolation wicket but Gloucester got home with two overs to spare.