Charfield (179-5) beat Kingswood (178-7) by five wickets

BOWLING advantage between two well matched batting sides gave Charfield victory over visitors Kingswood.

Put into bat, Kingswood recovered from the immediate loss of stroke maker Ken Wood to Charlie Walwin with a 60-run partnership from Ben Foxwell, bowled Joss Beeley for 40, and Richard Wilding, bowled by 72-year-old Mike Colborn for 29.

Kevin Morgan (41) and Vince Taylor (15) were the only others to reach double figures as Ben Waldron (3-20) and Beeley (2-16) whittled away Kingswood's middle order, leaving 15-year-old tail ender Mike Barnes to nurse his 71-year-old partner and the side to 178-7.

Kingswood's bowling and nine dropped catches could not contain Charfield from the modest 4.5 runs per over.

All bar one batsmen reached double figures: Mark Thomas (11), Beeley (14), Joe Field (25), Rory Thomas (28).

Keeper Sean Bath (49*) and Waldron (10*) took the hosts home with five overs to spare.

Apart from a wicket to veteran Taylor, the other four were shared equally between students Robbie Foxwell, brother Ben, Ollie Niddrie and Mike Barnes.

The clubs will meet twice again in August for the return match on the 31st and last Del Gannon Trophy on the 17th.