Bank House Glos CCl Div One

Oldlands 86 all out; Cirencester 87-1

CIRENCESTER firsts cruised to their third straight comfortable win, this time away at Oldlands.

Having won the toss for the first time this season, and taking into account the wet weather during the week, it was not a difficult decision to ask Oldlands to bat first.

The first 10 overs bowled by Jack Roberts and Tom Fullalove, who has newly returned to Cirencester from Purton, were steady if somewhat uneventful. However, all that changed when the pace was taken off the ball with the introduction on Simon Rowe (4-15) and Jock Jamieson-Black (5-26).

Rowe bowled by far his best spell of the season, and managed to control the extravagant swing that he managed to achieve. He first removed Doug Walton for 24 with a ball that started on leg stump and clipped the top of off, before repeating the feat a few overs later on Brad Thomas, the Oldlands skipper. With a couple of LBWs on either side of this the heart of the home side's batting had been returned to the pavilion.

During this time the in-form Jamieson-Black has managed to prize out Dave Brookes, with a sharp caught behind by Matt Carter, but with the tail exposed he quickly wrapped up the innings as the lower order struggled to come to terms with his variations.

So after 26 overs the home innings was complete, leaving Cirencester to navigate the 87 needed for victory on a difficult sticky surface. Having finished early it was necessary to have a further 45 minutes of play before tea would be ready, and this is all the time that was needed for Cirencester to secure the victory. Will Mason's assault on the Oldlands bowling was relentless.

Pete Waite was dispatched for 31 off his two overs before Dave Brookes was dealt with in a similarly manner with 24 from his two overs. It took an exceptional catch by Brad Thomas off the bowling of Stuart Reeves to remove him for quick-fire 66 but by this time the damage was done.

The remaining 10 runs required for victory came in a more sedate manner, taking three overs, but even this meant that the whole chase had only used up just 11.4 overs.

Another maximum points win keeps Cirencester at the top of the table but this weekend's match against Cam, who have also started the season well, will undoubtedly prove a more difficult prospect.