THORNBURY came mighty close to upsetting high-flying Goatacre in the West of England Premier Cricket League Prem 2 Glos/Wilts league on Saturday but lost out by just 17 runs.

Goatacre, who are top of the table, batted first and made 206 all out with Dan Davis the star bowler as he finished with figures of 5-33.

Davis also added 36 with the bat before he was caught out with the total on 44. Skipper Luke Davis stuck around until his side had reached 121, having smashed four boundaries and two sixes in a 38-ball knock of 45.

But there was not much contribution from the rest of the team before Tom Bradley, at number ten, and bowler Luke Franklin, at 11, tried to get Thornbury over the line.

Their last-man stand was worth 29 runs before Franklin went for 16, leaving Bradley unbeaten on 28 and Thornbury at 189 all out.

l Thornbury's second team hosted top of the table Cam in the Gloucestershire County League Division Two and were given a lesson in the difference between middle table and promotion-chasing performance.

Greg Mallitte won the toss and decided to bat.

Cam immediately made inroads as Simon Weeks was bowled second ball of the innings and Josh Riggs and Ollie Humphries were left to contend with very accurate bowling.

Neither could really shift the shackles, Humphries departing for 10, Riggs for a patient 20.

Andy Weeks found his stride and hitting the odd loose ball to the boundary David Hammond (13) ran himself out and Mark Allen (14), stumped, came and went Thornbury, leaving in trouble.

However Alex Allen (22) went on the attack and after Andy Weeks went for 58, Thornbury limped to 168 all out.

In response, Cam punished anything loose from the Thornbury opening bowlers and it wasn’t until Greg Mallitte introduced himself that the first success came.

Alex Allen took two wickets, but Cam’s Jake Dolbear and Alex Ballard took a shine to all the bowling.

Dolbear finished with a very classy 85 not out and Ballard scored an unbeaten 47 as Cam reaching the modest target inside 33 overs.