CRICKET: Laboured Fairford fail to trouble Down Hatherley (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Two wickets in two balls for teenage Fairford debutant Lafford-Taylor

9:56am Tuesday 26th June 2012 in Sport

Readers Glos CCL Div 8.

Down Hatherley II 189-6.

Fairford II 114-8.

FAIRFORD seconds’ performances have tended to ebb and flow like the seas so far this season and results have been unpredictable.

A visit to Down Hatherley should have brought victory, but instead it marked ‘low tide’ and one of Fairford’s poorer efforts.

Fairford elected to field and Richard Bennett’s opening spell was extremely economical, conceding just eight runs off nine overs. At the other end, Sam Young was brisk and 2-37 was a reward for his fortitude.

However, opener Robin Jones was plugging away doggedly and reached 80 before he was eventually dislodged by Young.

Thirteen-year-old Ben Lafford-Taylor celebrated his debut by taking two wickets with consecutive deliveries, but Down Hatherley did well to reach 189-6 off 45 overs on a wicket that was slow and fickle after so much rain.

Fairford’s reply was laboured; hampered by a steady stream of dismissals as tight bowling and the slow, inconsistent wicket took its toll.

Captain Colin Denness shored up the middle order with a gritty 29 and Gareth Bowman’s plucky 37 not out ensured Fairford saw out their allotted overs, although they were beaten soundly.