Fairford CC suffer a crushing, nine-wicket defeat (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Fairford CC suffer a crushing, nine-wicket defeat

FAIRFORD suffered a crushing, nine-wicket defeat in the County League on May 3 against a strong Tewkesbury side who will surely be challenging for promotion later in the season.

When Fairford were asked to bat first on a damp wicket, which had stood up well to Friday's onslaught, from an excellent position of 68-1 with Clive Gray in good nick, things were looking promising.

However, there came a monumental collapse as Allcoat and Tolley ripped through the middle order and the tail to leave the Fairford on 89 all out.

In reply, Tewkesbury never looked in any real danger and knocked off the runs inside 30 overs for the loss of one wicket.

For their part, Fairford failed for probably the time ever to pick up a single point.

On a rare win of the toss on May 10, Fairford captain Town-send inserted his Shurdington hosts on a dry track, which had been juiced up with a shower just before the start.

Bird and Denness picked up an early wicket each and everything was looking good with Fairford picking up their first point of the season. However, Mudway and Picton looked in far less trouble and took the score to 45-2 after 18 overs.

A double bowling change brought astonishing results and a bigger collapse than the one which Fairford had inflicted upon them the previous week.

From 48-2, Shurdington collapsed to 59 all out inside 29 overs. Newport took 5-9 in 5.2 overs and Peyman 3-3 in five including four maidens.

But on a rather bowler friendly track, the lively Bennett brothers opened up and so victory was far from a formality.

This proved to be the case with Fairford collapsing to 24-4 as the changing room became ever busier.

Nonetheless, Clark and More-ing took Fairford to the tea interval with the score on 42.

After tea, the superstitious players were banished to the same seats as they had occupied before the break.

This meant the padded-up Townsend stayed in the groundsman's shed and did not reappear until victory was assured without losing any further wickets.

In the end, Fairford picked up 20 points for their efforts.