Bank House Glos CCL Div Two
Stone 176-7
Poulton 177-5
POULTON enjoyed a hard-fought victory away to lowly Stone on a miserable day for cricket.

Captain Ross Cutts chose to bowl on what proved a tough wicket for runs and the Poulton opening bowlers never allowed Stone to get off to a good start.

Hugh Gunn and Jack Morris dovetailed perfectly. Morris' express pace troubled the Stone line-up, while the miserly off spin of Gunn gave nothing away.

Gunn struck in each of his first two overs to leave Stone at 6-2. When Gunn struck again in the 10th over, Stone looked in big trouble at 23-3.

A good partnership of 90 between Pete Lavis and Dave Jones got Stone back in the game, before off spin struck again in the shape of Sam Denning thanks to a great catch from 14-year-old 1st XI debutant Felix Cheesman to dismiss the prolific Lavis for 30.

When Robbie James struck twice, including the wicket of Jones for 47, Poulton seized control and some tight bowling and excellent fielding never allowed Stone to get away.

A period of decent lower-order hitting saw Stone creep past 170, but late wickets from Liam James and Morris saw Stone close at 176-7.

The Poulton reply began slowly with openers Scott Meredith and Jody Lawrence having to work hard for their runs. The partnership was just beginning to blossom with some lovely shots through the off side before Lawrence was caught and bowled tamely for 21.

Meredith continued to dig in with Denning, but when the latter was clean bowled for 14 and Gunn out for a duck in the space of two overs, Poulton seemed in a spot of trouble at 65-3.

Captain Cutts strode to the crease and straight away set about putting the Stone fielders under pressure with some excellent running between the wickets. In tandem with Meredith, the pair took their partnership past 50, Meredith reaching his third successive 50 in the process as a Poulton win looked inevitable.

With just 15 needed for victory, the reintroduction of Lavis to the attack brought immediate rewards as he had Meredith caught for 66 off the first ball of his spell. Lavis also removed Jon Maunder not long after but his efforts proved too little too late as Cutts and Robbie James saw Poulton through to victory.

Cutts hit the winning runs to finish 50 not out to see his team over the line with three overs to spare.