Gloucestershire County League Division Two

Cranham 200-9 lost to Thornbury 2nds 201-7 by three wickets

THORNBURY seconds are in the promotion places in the Gloucestershire County League Division Two after making it three successive wins with victory over Cranham on Saturday.

Stand in skipper Colin Blick lost the toss and Thornbury had a go at fielding first.

Josh Riggs and Jimmy Tunnicliffe opened up the attack and bowled a decent line and length scattered with the obligatory wide here and there.

In fact, when Luke Franklin replaced Jimbob, here and there would have been a blessing as his first bowl of the season barely threatened the cut strip as the wides were flying everywhere (as was Blick behind the stumps trying to stop them).

Thankfully another player bowling for the first time this year, Jack Gillett, remembered how to pitch it straight and he was immediately rewarded with 2 wickets in 2 balls, Nichols (8) and Alex Pockett (0).

Gillett also made quick work of the dangerous James Pockett (16) and Thornbury were well in the hunt.

However whilst runs off the bat were scarce, runs via extras continued to mount up as all the bowlers seem to suffer from the Franklins.

Alex Allen was the exception as he decided to bowl with some control and deserved his wicket of Hayes (30).

Tunnicliffe returned and saw off the lower middle order by bamboozling the batsmen with straight deliveries, Riggs doing the same to the tail.

Cranham ended 200-9 off the allotted 45 overs, extras practically doubling any individual score with a fine 67 (including 56 wides) !!

After the interval Cranham appeared to catch the bug by bowling some proper dross which Dury (before being stumped off guess what – a wide), Riggs (43) and Tunnicliffe (33) capitalised on, Thornbury 70-1 off just 7 overs.

The Cranham spinners then took some control and the runs began to dry up, James Pockett removing Tunnicliffe and Blick, Hopkins producing a great delivery to bowl Marcus Wormwell and Overs, apparently, trapping Hammond LBW.

Thornbury 165-7 and the wobble was on.

However Gillett (18 not out) and in particular Allen (25 not out) produced a vital partnership to secure victory by 7 wickets within 41 overs.

Certainly the result was a positive outcome but all within the team will know that better performances are a must if the 100% start to the season is to be maintained.