Stonehouse stage a 'Great Escape' (From Stroud News and Journal)

Stonehouse stage a 'Great Escape'

Stonehouse welcomed old friends Bisley to School Lane for this Stroud League Premier Division match on Saturday.

The home side won the toss and batted first, but the Bisley opening attack of M Wade and J Fern had very much the best of the opening stages, both bowling well and making good use of the overcast conditions to swing and move the ball.

Chandler, Toms, Hyland and Woodham all had the long walk back to the pavilion with the bat under their arm as Stonehouse were reduced to eight for the loss of four wickets from the first 10 overs.

With the game looking dead and buried and some doubt as to whether tea would even be needed, Chris Biddell joined Rob Helliwell at the crease and both made good use of their skill and experience to put together a 60 run partnership to see Stonehouse battle to 70-4 from 30 overs before Biddell finally fell for a hard fought 18.

Rob Helliwell brought up his 50 with a thumping six over mid-wicket, and, with Glen Miller adding a typical hard-hitting 14 and Stonehouse closed on 130.

The Bisley response started briskly with J Cobbe (23) looking in fine shape until Tom Morgan, bowling with his usual mixture of guile and aggression from the copse end removed his off stump.

Helliwell then took a fine catch at square leg to remove French (3) again off Morgan's bowling.

With Bisley on 25-2 Stonehouse sensed a chance. Tom Morgan continued to steam in, clean bowling Hemming and Brewer and when skipper Ollie Smith's stumps were also rattled by the big man to leave Bisley on 45-5 the great escape looked on.

Graham Toms provided great support bowling his 12 overs for a miserly 19 runs. T Bannyard (18) provided some late resistance from Bisley but with both Neil Campbell (two wickets from nine balls), and Glen Miller completing the Stonehouse bowling the game ended when Kev Woodham took a magnificent diving a catch at short mid-wicket to dismiss T Banyard.

Rob Helliwell's 60 not out and Tom Morgan's second consecutive five wicket haul were the champagne moments as Stonehouse took the points.