Readers Glos CCL Div Two

Fairford 216-3

Haresfield 213-4

IN THE week of his 21st birthday Will Bowers took his batting to another level, scoring his maiden century for Fairford as they overcame Haresfield by seven wickets at Park Street.

Opting to bat first on a greenish wicket Haresfield made steady progress against a Fairford attack that struggled to find any penetration.

The innings never gained any momentum and although Luv Duggal, Richard Claridge and Tim Smith all gave good support to Ali Smith, who batted patiently for a well-deseved 94 not out, a final score of 213-4 always looked below par on a good batting track.

Fairford made a stuttering start in reply, losing two wickets with only 24 on the board. This brought Will Bowers to the crease to join the reliable Lee Clark and the pair never looked in any trouble as they added a stand of 136 in 26 overs, rotating the strike well and punishing the odd bad ball with boundaries.

Clark was unfortunate to be run out for 68 by a direct hit when he looked certain to record his second century of the season. But any Fairford fears of a middle-order collapse were allayed as Bowers and Adrian Newport saw Fairford home in some style, Bowers finishing not out on 109.