Sheepscombe strats solidly (From Stroud News and Journal)

Sheepscombe strats solidly

Berkeley v Sheepscombe

Berkeley CC entertained Sheepscombe CC on a very hot Saturday afternoon in front of a number of people enjoying the sunshine.

Sheepscombe won the toss and decided to bat but lost an early wicket with Piers Riseley-Prichard being bowled for two.

However this brought Joe Skinner to the wicket, who with Jamie Bill put on 44 runs for the second wicket. Unfortunately Jamie Bill's innings came to an end after crashing the ball around the field for a well-made 30.

Joe Skinner went on to make a controlled 82, which enabled the lower order to come in and post the intimidating score of 206 runs.

For Berkeley the pick of the bowlers was Ash Phillips who showed good control finishing with figures of 12-2-44-3.

Berkeley's reply got off to a good start with W Bell and A Ruther opening with a partnership of 42.

However Jim Davis broke the partnership aided by a good catch from Jamie Bill. Well disciplined bowling from the reliable Jon Clayton maintained the pressure bowling his overs straight through finishing with figures of 12-4-38-1.

Berkeley never recovered from the opening spells and it was left to Phil Adler to spin the ball viciously past the bat, finishing with 11-4-23-4. Sheepscombe were unable to break through the solid defence of Aly Phillips with Berkeley finishing on 125 for 9.

Sheepscombe finished winners by 81 runs and collected 19 points and Berkeley seven points.

Sheepscombe v Wickwar (League)

ON June 8 Sheepscombe hosted Wickwar cricket club on a dampish looking wicket. Sheepscombe proceeded to win the toss and asked Wickwar to have first use of a wicket that should have played a few tricks and assisted the Sheepscombe bowlers.

The problems started straight away for Sheepscombe with the wicket playing well and the bowlers feeding the Wickwar opening batsmen to some free runs.

The Wickwar batsmen all managed to get good starts with S Wall posting 37 before being bowled by Skinner's slow ball. M Bryan was the next wicket to fall, being well bowled by S Cockeram for 26. However the pick of the Wickwar batters was R Page who battered 72 runs unfinished at tea.

Wickwar finished on a well-made, if not 30 runs short, 215 for 3. After a good tea Sheepscombe started well with Risely-Pritchard and J Parker putting on 61 runs for the first wicket, the former making 28 that included some lusty blows and some exquisite shots.

J Parker was then joined J Skinner and that began the winning partnership. J Parker batted for 36 overs and ended up with a very well played but tired 98 runs.

J Skinner finished with 74 creating a partnership of 137 runs with J Parker. Unfortunately both batsman were out just before the end of the innings, leaving S Cockeram to come in and hit the winning boundary.

Sheepscombe ended up with 216 for 3 and took away 19 points compared to Wickwar's six.