THE sun shone to herald the start of the 2014 season of the SweetFuels CDCA Division One, although the rain of the previous two weeks made batting a tricky prospect on some grounds.
Champions Adlestrop started as they mean to go on with a comfortable win at home to Williamstrip. Put in to bat the visitors could only manage 72 all out on a soft pitch. The hosts also found batting tricky but eased to the target for the loss of only three wickets.
At Chedworth, the star with both bat and ball was Jamie Lait. With Chedworth batting first Lait top-scored with 60 and had good support from Oliver Lockey (33) and Dan Heaps (32) as the hosts posted 173 all out. Mike Mabbatt, with 3-7, was the pick of the visiting bowlers.
Chasing a competitive target visitors Cricklade were always in the hunt with good knocks from Danny Lloyd (39) and Darren Fisher (26). However, an outstanding spell from man-of-the-match Lait, taking 7-30, kept the visitors in check and ensured a home victory.
Stow-on-the-Wold were far too strong at home for newly-promoted Poulton 2nd XI. Winning the toss proved to be the highlight of Poulton’s day as the hosts, having been inserted, racked up a commanding 214-7. The top order did the damage with Chris Heaps (60), skipper Ash Andrews (53) and Dan Smith (49) piling on the runs. In reply, visitors Poulton collapsed to a paltry 28 all out as Hayden Elsdale (6-9) and Ash Andrews (4-18) ran riot.
Barnsley Beeches got their season off to a fine start with a comfortable win over NATS at Barnsley Park.
The visitors were invited to bat reaching 131 all out off their allotted overs. Andrew Phillips (41) top-scored with good support from his father Bob Phillips (27) but Qasim Ali (4-7) made a fine debut for the hosts.
In reply, Barnsley started steadily and were kept in check by the loss of wickets as Graham Bartlett took 3-54. However, opener Andrew Walker provided the anchor and carried his bat for 60 not out while at the other end J Odem came in to finish the game quickly hitting four fours and two sixes in his rapid 34 not out.
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