Gecko CDCA Div Two

Williamstrip 155-5
Fairford II 156-5
FAIRFORD 2nds edged a close game away at Williamstrip on Saturday, winning by five wickets.

Neither side found runs easy to come by, although only 10 wickets fell in the day. Fairford overhauled the home team's 155-5 in the 39th over of their innings.

Williamstrip chose to bat first but found life difficult against the visitors' disciplined bowling and enthusiastic fielding.

Will Chapman set the standard with the ball with an excellent opening spell of 2-8 in seven overs (three maidens). All the bowlers kept things tight but the only other wickets to fall were taken by Harvey New (two) and Charlie Bailey.

Home captain, Steve Reeves worked hard to set as challenging a total as possible, top-scoring with a fine 68* that included an array of well-struck boundaries.

Openers Louis Cusack (19) and Tom Sealey (22) got Fairford's reply off to a solid start and the visitors were in reasonably good shape at the halfway point of their innings on 61-2.

Then a useful partnership between Sam Young (26) and Simon Embleton-Smith (29) managed to establish some momentum and keep on top of the required run rate. However, both were out in quick succession, leaving debutant Will Findlay-Wilson (18*) and the experienced Kurt Eyre (10*) to see the visitors home with a few balls to spare.

Fairford's victory was well-deserved and the result of a strong all-round team effort with all 11 players contributing.