Friendly

Barnsley Beeches 225-9

South Cerney 231-2

A SUNDAY friendly produced perhaps the cricketing highlight of the weekend when South Cerney's Garrick Chivers hit an unbeaten double ton to help beat Barnsley Beeches.

Barnsley chose to bat and while Andrew Parffrey played positively Chivers took the first three wickets.

Parffrey and Stuart Gregory built a partnership until the 'flighted filth' of Phil James removed both batsmen shortly after they had reached their half centuries.

Chivers returned at the other end to complete a five-wicket haul, while James' figures were 3-34.

Barnsley made early inroads into the Cerney team, Stuart Liddington, bowling up the hill for the 40th season, kept a good line and Dave Witnall picked up Rob Brown in his first over and James Bayliss in his second, leaving Cerney struggling at 16-2.

Together, though, Chivers and Paul Leyfield set about building an innings and once Garrick had passed his half century he looked to take on the bowling and increase the run rate.

As Cerney entered the final 20 overs they still needed 120 runs and Chivers passed his ton in the next over.

Showing his full range of strokes, Chivers then quickly passed 150.

Leyfield provided strong support, turning singles into twos and keeping out the good balls.

As the victory targeted loomed Chivers hit the final shot for six taking him to an undefeated 202 and Cerney to 231-2. The partnership was worth 215.

The innings was the highest in Cerney's history – 28 fours and eight sixes. A quite extraordinary feat.