Gloucestershire County League Division Two

Thornbury 2nds 168 ao lost to Cam 169-3 by seven wickets

CAM continued their fine form and took their record to ten wins from eleven this season as they secured a seven wicket victory away to Thornbury seconds.

Having opted to field first, Adam Holloway’s Cam side made the perfect start as Gareth Udal clean bowled Thornbury opener Simon Weeks with just the second ball of the game.

This early wicket was followed up by Charlie Viney who had wicketkeeper Ollie Humphries caught at gully by Adam Philp for ten.

A budding partnership between teenager Josh Riggs (20) and Andy Weeks (58) threatened to fire Thornbury into a healthy position before the former was bowled by a good delivery from Ollie Mears.

On the stroke of the drinks break, a mix-up between the batsmen allowed Ollie Mears to run out David Hammond for 13.

It was a big breakthrough for the away side and saw the momentum swing in Cam’s favour.

The ever reliant bowling of Pete Hall took full advantage of the momentum shift as he removed Weeks, to a catch by Adam Philp, and Mark Allen who was stumped by Jake Dolbear as he advanced down the track.

Ben Holloway then got in on the action as he trapped Stuart McWhinnie lbw before Alex Ballard removed numbers nine and ten thanks to a catch by Udal and a sharp slip catch by Jim Seal.

The innings came to a close in the next over as Alex Allen skied one to Ollie Mears to depart for 22 as Thornbury fell short of a competitive score on what was a good batting wicket.

With the victory target set at 169, Cam’s openers Udal and Jake Dolbear made a strong start as both men regularly found the boundary with Udal punishing any width and Dolbear particularly strong on the drive and off his legs.

The score had advanced to 59 in the 13th over before Udal was adjudged lbw off the bowling of Greg Malitte to depart for 13.

Holloway and Jamie Seal found things trickier than the openers as a tight infield limited the scoring options.

Both men departed off the bowling of Alex Allen but Dolbear remained resolute as he passed fifty to take his side to within sight of victory.

Dolbear was joined by Alex Ballard and the pair found runs easy to come by with Ballard finding the boundary regularly as he crunched three fours and five sixes in an unbeaten knock of 47 from 28 balls.

Dolbear remained solid at the other end as he ended on 85 not out from 101 balls, a knock which included fifteen fours, as Cam reached their victory target with seven wickets and 12.3 overs remaining.

Next for Cam is a top of table clash away to Hatherley and Reddings seconds while Thornbury seconds are away to Gloucester City Winget seconds.