Bank House GCCL Div Four

Haresfield Gladiators 115 all out; Cirencester II 183-7

CIRENCESTER showed Haresfield who were the true gladiators when comfortably winning this top-of-the-table clash.

Winning the toss and batting first, Cirencester made a poor start with Andy Cooper and Ben Langridge both back in the pavilion without scoring.

Kit Penny and Alex Binnie steadied the ship with some solid resistance but when Penny was out for 25 and Wood and Binnie (28) quickly followed it looked like Cirencester might be heading home early.

Bram Coleman and Tom Rutter entered the arena and took on the bowling with Coleman playing a number of flowing cover drives and one six that sailed over deep long on.

Rutter was out to a sharp catch for 12 but contributed to a 50 partnership with Coleman.

When Ned Langlands-Pearse came to the crease he smashed four big sixes into the adjoining fields. Aided and abetted by Coleman, who ended on his highest score (68) of the season, they both remained not out allowing Cirencester to post 183-7 off their allotted 45 overs.

If the batting resembled The Great Escape the bowling and fielding display represented The Terminator.

Jake Holmes had the dangerous opening bat Ali Smith caught with a stunning, low catch from Ben Langridge at square leg. Langlands-Pearse weighed in with the wicket of Jason Hooper caught behind by Cooper for 0. Holmes (2-30) and Langlands-Pearse (3-21) struck again and before the hosts knew it Cirencester had them at 31-5 off 15 overs.

Sam and Joel Frost took one wicket apiece and Langridge took three at the end.

Haresfield were all out for 115 thereby allowing Cirencester to gain near-maximum points and take them to second place in division four table.