BIRDLIP & Brimpsfield lost out in the last over of a high-scoring game at Oldlands.

Readers Glos CCL Div One

Oldlands 265-7

Birdlip & Brimpsfield 259

After being put in to bat, Oldlands made good progress with Nick Grove (17) hitting three fours in the opening over.

The score moved on to 33 when Grove was given out LBW despite a big inside edge. Steve Heaven (46) joined Doug Walton (69) and they set about the Birdlip attack, adding a partnership of 84 to move on to 114.

Skipper Mike Colborn (26) joined Walton and continued to score freely before he was bowled. With the 200 up and batting points secured Sean Rocke joined the fray and hit an unbeaten 47not out assisted by Bob Woolams (25) with some late-order hitting to set Birdlip 266 to win.

With a good wicket, Birdlip paced their chase well maintaining a steady rate but were pegged back at crucial times by Colborn (5-37) and a tight opening spell from Dave Brookes.

Rocke and Heaven bowled a good spell between them, Colborn then returned and took his five wickets for 15 runs in five overs.

With opener George Smith passing 100 for Birdlip in a chanceless innings he was running out of partners.

With nine off the last over required and Smith off strike, David Partridge went for the big shot and found Colborn on the boundary off Jim Wright's bowling.