Bank House Glos CCL Div Four
Birdlip & Brimpsfield 149-2
Dumbleton II 148 all out

BIRDLIP produced their best all-round display in the field this season as they beat visitors Dumbleton by eight wickets.

Dependable opening bowler George James (3-22), frugal as ever, claimed three wickets and was ably supported by Prakash Sathya.

First-change bowlers continued to apply pressure and runs had to be earned.

Dumbleton's openers showed early resistance until James made the breakthrough. Peter Boorman went on to score 30 but fell to Andy Hieron whose two wickets cost only 19 runs off his nine overs.

Gareth Reid rallied for the visitors and led the tail as the overs ran out, scoring an attacking 42.

Kent Partridge grabbed two wickets in his short spell and Chetan Ubale and Trevor Holder, although both wicketless, ensured Dumbleton scored a below-par 148.

Birdlip’s day in the field was capped by two smart run-outs as the visitors scrambled for runs.

Despite losing an early wicket and then Nitin Shetty for 20, Birdlip made light work of their 149 target.

Andy Downes soon got into the groove and his 17 boundaries pushed the score along well ahead of the required run rate.

Birdlip eased to a comfortable win in the 22nd over with Downes unbeaten on 83, along with Ian Green (21*).