Stroud and South Gloucestershire U12 v Bristol U12

Bristol 100-8 (30 overs) lost to Stroud and South Gloucestershire 101-7 (28 overs) by three wickets

STROUD and South Gloucestershire got the better of Bristol in a close encounter at Tockington Manor School.

Chasing 101 to win SSG reached their target with three wickets and two overs to spare.

Earlier, Bristol won the toss and elected to bat. But they found runs hard to come by in the early overs as the SSG bowlers maintained a good line and length.

Ben Rivers (Bradley Stoke) broke through early on before Bristol got back on track thanks to good contributions from Oliver Pearson (Brislington) (19), Will Gallagher (Stoke Bishop) 21 and Ben Byas (Twyford House) (15).

But wickets continued to fall. These wickets were shared between six different bowlers as Bristol finished on 100 -8 from their 30 overs.

In reply, the Stroud and South Gloucestershire openers started well with 24 on the board before Lewis Moss 10 (Frenchay) was feel to the impressive Byas (4-19).

When Freddie Ridge (Chalford) went for 27 the score was on 69-4.

There was still work to do and a tight finish looked on the cards before a very mature knock from Austin Strange (Downend) (30 not out) who struck four late boundaries to reduce the pressure and secure the win with two overs to spare.