9:57am Thursday 2nd September 2010
OLD DOWN confirmed their return to Division One with a comfortable win against an already relegated Patchway side, who didn't give anything away.
Patchway were asked to bat by Old Down skipper Mike Rowen and made a steady start on a sluggish drying strip.
It wasn't until young spinner Harry Kitchen came on that Old Down got into their stride and wickets started to fall.
Kitchen's excellent and season best 6-40 was ably supported by veteran seamer Andy Rowen, who chipped in with 2-6.
Old Down's bowlers were well backed up by some superb catching from Dave Dinely, Sam Peplow and the evergreen Jon Pullin.
Dave Gardner started the reply in style with 14 off the first over, including ten off the first two balls, and despite losing opener Sam Peplow early Old Down were never in danger.
Gardner (76) and Kitchen (34) put on nearly 100 before both fell with two needed, leaving Andy Rowen (4*) to hit the winning runs.
Old Downs’s side this year contained 11 regulars all brought up through the Colts system and the successful 2nds, who also won promotion, often included five of the under-15 squad.
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