Fairford v Frampton-on-Severn 1st XI FAIRFORD slumped to a disappointing seven-wicket defeat against visitors, Frampton-on-Severn, in this Gloucestershire County League One match.

On an afternoon when there was almost constant drizzle, the toss was always likely to be a decisive factor.

Fairford lost it and were invited to bat against the visitors' impressive seam attack.

There was extravagant seam movement from the first ball, with batsmen struggling to get bat on ball, let alone score runs.

With several key players missing, the home team's batting line-up was not as strong as usual and once early wickets were lost, against the pacey Halsey and the economic Raines, it was always going to be an uphill struggle.

Only Newport and Bennett came to terms with the bowling but even they were culpable in their dismissals, something that was a feature of the Fairford innings.

The innings finished after only 33 overs, with Leadbeater claiming the final five wickets with incisive wicket-to-wicket bowling.

Needing early wickets to stand any chance, the hosts made the ideal start when Bird had Higgins caught behind by the returning Gray but unfortunately there were to be no further breakthroughs.

Huxstep and Driver-Dickinson survived frequent lbw appeals and played and missed regularly but crucially did not miss any opportunities to put the bad ball away.

As time went on the batsmen became more at ease and it was only when the finishing line was in sight that Jones returned to take two quick wickets but it was too little too late as Driver-Dickinson guided his side home with an impressive half-century.

This Saturday, the first team visit Apperley with the returning Townsend, Greener and Bullock adding strength to the batting line-up.

In the reverse fixture, the seconds play host to Apperley with a 2pm start.

Fairford Mark Leadbeater c M Raines b D Halsey 7 Richard Hatton c S Jackson b M Raines 1 S Embleton-Smith c S Jackson b M Raines 0 Adrian Newport lbw b M Leadbeater 26 Paul Morris b D Halsey 4 C Gray c G Walden b M Raines 4 Richard Bennett b M Leadbeater 27 Winston Jones c N Peacey b M Leadbeater 6 Graham Clarke lbw b M Leadbeater 5 Ed Bird not out 0 Ian McHardie-Jones lbw b M Leadbeater 0 Extras 14 Total (all out, 33 overs) 94 Frampton 1st XI Lee Driver-Dickinson not out 52 R Higgins c Clive Gray b Ed Bird 0 D Huckstep b Winston Jones 25 L O'Neil b Winston Jones 0 M Leadbeater not out 0 Extras 19 Total (for 3 wkts, 28 overs) 96