Readers Gloucestershire County League Division One

Birdlip (219) lost to Oldlands (223-4) by six wickets

A GLORIOUS and chanceless unbeaten century from Brad Thomas saw Oldlands home to an ultimately comfortable win in their crucial game at Birdlip on Saturday.

Batting first, the home side were off to a flying start and had reached 52-1 after only seven overs, in the main due to some loose bowling from the visiting opening bowlers.

The introduction of Steve Pennington and Mike Colborn into the attack then made runs more difficult to come by and, with good support from Steve Heaven, wickets fell at regular intervals and with Dave Walton and Dave Brookes returning to mop up the tail, Birdlip would no doubt have been disappointed with a final all out score of 219.

Oldlands made a steady start to their innings before Doug Walton (10) guided a catch straight to gully, bringing Thomas and Pennington together at the crease. These two experienced batsmen then set about building a solid foundation before gradually building momentum with a series of quality cricket shots.

An excellent partnership of 113 had then taken the score on to 129 before Pennington was superbly caught and bowled for 51 and then a breezy cameo of 28 from Heaven maintained the momentum before he too departed to a stunning catch.

This then left Thomas to continue in total control towards the target, driving the full ball powerfully and punishing anything short with a series of thumping square cuts and it was totally appropriate that, with the scores tied, he sealed victory for his side with a glorious drive through the covers for the boundary that took him to a quite brilliant hundred.