CRICKET: Skipper-for-the day Lawrence stars for Poulton (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Jody Lawrence takes vital catch and scores match-winning innings

1:25pm Monday 28th May 2012 in Sport

Readers Glos CCL Div 2.

Poulton 167-2.

Newent 165 all out.

POULTON recorded their first win of the season in convincing fashion and hope that a disappointing start to the campaign is now well behind them.

Nathan Bell, the in-form New Zealander for Newent, started well and punished the occasional bad ball. However, a touch of over-confidence saw the Kiwi cut the ball to deep point where a brilliant one-handed catch by Jody Lawrence sent him back to the pavilion.

Oliver Newman picked up four wickets to demolish the Newent middle order and when Higginson bowled opener Steve Edgell on 54, Newent were kept to a below-par score.

In reply, Poulton punished the bad ball well and made steady inroads, easily scoring at four an over.

Youthful skipper-on-the-day Jody Lawrence carried his bat through the innings for 78* as he and Andre Duffas (25*) took Poulton to a win by eight wickets in the 43rd over.