CIRENCESTER crashed to their second county league setback of the season as visitors Frampton sent them tumbling to 77 all out and a six-wicket defeat in the Park on Saturday.

Readers Gloucestershire County League Division One

Cirencester 77 all out

Frampton-on-Severn 78-4

Nothing went right for the Town from the outset, with in-form captain Gareth Williams forced to sit on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury.

The decision to bat first on a pitch affected by rain was one which, in hindsight, they must have rued as the wicket became easier to bat on as the game went on.

Without their other regular opener Ben Moody, the Town sent in Jono Jamieson-Black on his seasonal debut along with Will Mason and they were soon in trouble against the accurate medium pace of Dan Huxstep and Craig Barnfield.

Huxstep's first six overs went for just one run and Barnfield took 2-14 off his eight overs.

Jamieson-Black was first to go, caught without scoring off Barnfield, who then went on to send back Will Rudd after a mistimed shot.

Mason and Ross Jeffels steadied the innings briefly, both reaching double figures before they fell to change bowlers Daniel Halsey and Lee Driver-Dickenson, and there was to be no respite for the Town as Jock Jamieson-Black and Andy Reynolds both fell for ducks to the same bowlers.

Simon Rowe then became Halsey’s third victim before Bram Coleman and Matt Carter were both trapped leg before and although Rob Lamble resisted stoutly he was left stranded as last man Billy Breen was bowled with the total on 77 in the 33rd of the reduced 40 overs match.

With the ground drying out quickly after tea Frampton lost two wickets to the pace of Jeffels, both trapped leg before, but opener Driver-Dickenson, the scourge of the Town attack in the past, stayed put in a controlled innings under scant pressure.

Jono Jamieson-Black and Rowe managed to take a further wicket apiece before the target was passed in the 24th over but Driver-Dickenson calmly accumulated an unbeaten 36 to see his side home without further mishap.

Frampton have now won four games in a row.