POULTON 1st XI stretched their unbeaten run to five matches with a convincing 43 run win at Tetbury.

Put in to bat by their hosts on a slow wicket, Poulton opening pair of Scott Meredith and Jody Lawrence looked solid in the first 10 overs, reaching 32 before Meredith was caught at point for nine.

Lawrence and Sam Denning set about rebuilding but found scoring tough, but the pair hit boundaries at the right time to keep Poulton ticking along nicely, reaching 80-1 at drinks.

Lawrence was dismissed lbw not long after drinks for 43, and when in the next over Denning was dismissed for 22, Poulton had to rebuild. Mark Burton looked to accelerate but when he was caught at slip for seven, Poulton needed a partnership.

Captain Jon Maunder and Robbie James provided this, gaining momentum back for the visitors before James was caught off a full toss for 12.

James Newman joined Maunder and kept the rebuild going nicely, helping Poulton pass 150 before he was stumped for 12.

With seven overs left and Poulton needing some late innings fireworks to get past 200, Charlie Buse strode in and with help from Maunder, he launched a blistering attack on the Tetbury bowling.

Maunder was bowled for a well compiled 28 before Liam James cleared the ropes once in a brisk 14 but the star of the show was undoubtedly Buse, hitting three fours and four sixes on his way to a rapid 43 not out that saw Poulton end on 218-8.

Tetbury started their response slowly, Charlie Buse and James Newman offering nothing for the opening pair of captain Michael Baverstock and James Westhead to pounce on.

Buse made the breakthrough for Poulton, taking a sharp return catch off his bowling to remove Westhead for six.

Now in partnership with Liam James, the pair kept the pressure on and were duly rewarded when James clean bowled Baverstock for 14 and had James Meacham caught and bowled for 0 in the same over to leave Tetbury at 30-3.

Dan Davies struck in his second over, clean bowling Ponting for four.

Sushi Sikara and Ryan Leather held on stubbornly for Tetbury, building a partnership of 50 before Sikara was trapped lbw by Mark Burton for 30.

At this point Tetbury were 85-4 with just over 10 overs left and with the win looking unlikely, Leather and in particular Mark Schumm played with great freedom to propel Tetbury past 150 before Schumm was caught in the deep off the bowling of Sam Denning for an enterprising 40.

John Watson had Leather caught and bowled for 39 not long after and the game was all but done.

A late wicket from the impressive Davies and a wicket in the last over from Watson saw Tetbury end nine down.