THORNBURY took a nine-wicket battering in the West of England Premier League Prem 2 Glos/Wilts division on Saturday as they went to high-flying Westbury and District on Saturday.

Thornbury won the toss and batted first but the writing was on the wall when they lost opener Tom Bradley for six with the total on 20-1.

Fellow opener Dan Davis was tappled lbw for 22 but a healthy partnership began to flourish when number three Josh Slade and captain Luke Davis took to the crease.

Slade was steady while Davis cracked the ball to the boundary five times. But their partnership ended when Slade was caught for twenty – and from there, it was all downhill for Thornbury.

Wicketkeeper Vishal Mamgai came in but was dismissed for six, while Danny Slade made a patient 12 before he was caught.

That put Thornbury on 98-6 and a long way short of setting Westbury and District a challenging total to aim at.

And, when the last wickets were taken, with two going when Thornbury were on 112, they finished on 114 all out.

It was never going to be enough and, after rain brought a reduction in overs, Westbury were set 97 to win from 35 overs and comfortably got there for the loss of one wicket – paceman Luke Franklin bowling opener Michael Coles for forty – inside just 14 overs.

It means Thornbury are now seventh in the table and will be hoping to bounce back in style when they entertain bottom side Hatherley and Reddings at The Ship Field on Saturday.