Leaders toppled by Kimber's brilliance (From Stroud News and Journal)

Leaders toppled by Kimber's brilliance

West of England League Premier Division Two Stroud 1st XI v Ilminster

STROUD'S struggle to avoid relegation received an excellent boost with a stunning victory over top of the table Ilminster at Farmhill on Saturday.

Martyn Kimber's 80 and Gareth Haines four- wicket haul set the platform for a remarkable victory.

Stroud batting first looked to Keith Daniels and Mark Bryan to set a solid base.

Daniels in particular was severe on anything loose as Stroud raced to 27 off six overs before Daniels became Stroud's first wicket to fall, caught behind for 16. Fellow opener Bryan was soon to follow, bowled by Smith for seven.

This brought the experienced pair of Ben Pockett and Martyn Kimber to the crease, looking to rebuild the Stroud innings.

These two pushed the total through 50 and just as they were starting to settle Pockett was next to fall with the score on 59, he was caught behind for 13, Stroud now 59 for three.

Chris Job joined Kimber and the pair put on the major partnership of the Stroud innings of 117 for the fourth wicket.

Kimber in customary manner looked to score quickly and freely while Job, batting with a maturity beyond his 16 years, was brutal on anything loose.

Kimber duly moved to 50 with Job looking set to join him, until he mistimed a drive, caught and bowled for a superb 48.

The next ball of the following over saw the departure of Kimber, bowled for an outstanding 80, leaving new batsmen Olly Waters and Ali Bell to try and stabilise a slight middle order wobble.

This soon turned into a collapse as Bell was next to go, smashing a short ball straight to deep square leg where he was caught for one, leaving Stroud in trouble at 176 for five.

But Waters, now joined by James Pockett, looked to steady the innings but still playing his natural positive style, punishing anything short and wayward.

James Pockett fell soon after for two, to be replaced by brother Alex, and he and Waters pushed the total to 200 before Alex Pockett fell for 11, to leave Waters and new bat Paul Frape to see out the remaining overs.

Stroud completed their 50 overs on 230 for nine, Waters finishing on 31 not out.

Ilminster in reply looked to impose themselves on Stroud's new ball attack of Gareth Haines and Olly Waters, as in Haines' first over went for 16, but chances were offered and not taken.

However, this positive approach was short-lived as in Waters' first over he produced a superb inswinging yorker to bowl opener Dyke for nought.

With the score on 54 Haines grabbed his first wicket as he trapped Kuhn lbw for 19.

The next ball Haines took his second wicket as the dangerous Spurhay was caught at second slip by Bryan without scoring, leaving Ilminster reeling at 54 for three off 13 overs.

The visitors now looked to rebuild again and pushed the total to 92 when the introduction of Kimber, replacing Haines, brought immediate success as in only his second over he produced a ball that deceived Alexander who was bowled for seven.

James Pockett claimed the next wicket with the score on 138 as opener Boucher's hard-hitting and chancy innings finally ended as he picked out Ali Bell at deep square leg who pulled off an excellent catch and as such turned the game in Stroud's favour.

Kimber claimed his second wicket in the next over as Burfield was caught by James Pockett for eight, leaving Ilminster struggling on 151 for six off 43 overs.

However Ilminster's response was to try and hit themselves out of trouble and they promptly raced to 198 before an inspired piece of work produced a run out, leaving Ilminster needing 32 to win off three overs but only three wickets left.

Skipper Ben Pockett replaced the excellent Kimber, who completed his 15 over spell, with Haines who in effect halted any Ilminster comeback as he first removed Hurford, caught at deep mid-wicket by Waters for four, then two balls later dismissed the dangerous Ellwood as he nicked one through to keeper Alex Pockett for 44.

Ilminster finished on 212 all out as James Pockett took the final wicket and Grinter was stumped by brother Alex for one.

An excellent team performance with all Stroud's bowlers contributing, Kimber finishing with figures of 15-0-53-2, Waters 10-0-39-1, James Pockett 14.2-0.63-2 and Haines 10-0-57-4.