Glos County Trophy

Cirencester 207-4

Apperley 69 all out

CIRENCESTER, who face Apperley in the league on Saturday, enjoyed a big confidence boost by beating the same side in the first round of the county trophy on Sunday in The Park.

After a week of rain leading up to the game, and with a poor weather forecast, the decision was made to reduce the contest to 30 overs a side.

On winning the toss Apperley elected to bowl first on what looked like a pitch that would offer them some assistance.

Opening the batting for the first time this season Andy Reynolds chose to make the most of the opportunity, with his batting both precise and free flowing.

In the sixth over fellow opener Will Mason made a catastrophic misjudgment leaving a ball that nipped back and castled his middle stump, but by this time Reynolds had pushed the score on to 32. Ben Moody joined him and played second fiddle to a now-rampant Reynolds who continued to move the score on at a healthy six an over. He finally fell to a hand-stinging catch on the boundary – he had added 86 in just 24 overs.

Moody (40) then took up the reins as aggressor and was assisted ably by Jamie Jamieson-Black who provided a hard hitting and entertaining 35 at the end of the innings.

Finishing at 207-4 from their 30 overs Cirencester had posted an imposing score.

The Apperley response never really got going with plenty of wickets falling early on.

Only overseas import Corry Pollard with 14 and Rob Birch with 23 managed to get to double figures as the visitors collapsed to 69 all out in 22.5 overs.

All the Cirencester bowling figures were good with the wickets being shared evenly around all seven bowlers.

The champagne moment came with a flying one-handed catch pulled off by Ben Moody at square leg to remove the Apperley captain Davis Steinham for two.

Moody then followed this up with his first wicket for the club in a competitive game by getting Stuart Clutterbuck caught at mid-wicket.