Stroud & District Cricket League Division Three

Charfield 2nds (153) beat Frampton-On-Severn 3rds (144-6) by nine runs

ON A day when most league games were cancelled, Charfield and Frampton played 80 overs uninterrupted and got to a close finish.

Frampton’s run chase fell behind the rate when they lost wickets to Michael Colborn (3-24) and Tony Field (2-28), including a stunning catch by Mark Thomas at cover to remove opener Paul Birch.

Bruno Bussetti and Cliff Bateman built a long sixth wicket partnership until Bussetti fell for 51 to Steve Walker (1-27) when starting to accelerate.

Adventurous hitting and running by Lee Merchant (21) was thwarted by tight final overs from Joss Beeley, Colborn and Shane Forder and a run out by sub Joe Field.

Earlier, Charfield chose to bat first, and Alan George’s good form continued with a patient 32, well supported by Walker (22).

Once Peter Collins (1-23) and Merchant (2-32) had finished their allocation, Adam Hanney (18) Dave Tweed (28) and Jeremy Hull (19) all thumped boundaries off Bussetti (3-41) and Tom Johns (4-52) before perishing in the quest for more.

Their total of 153 proved to be just enough for victory, as the black clouds stayed away.