Bank House CCL Div Two

Stone 129-9; Tetbury 130-9

STONE skipper Alan Sherman was taken to hospital with concussion after being hit on the head during Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash with Tetbury.

The tall left-hander was helped off the pitch after top-edging a pull shot on to the back of his head, just below the helmet.

Although he returned to the club before the innings was out, he was unable to play any further part in the game, leaving Stone to complete the game with only 10 fielders.

An extra man to plug the gaps in the field might have made the difference for Stone, as they lost the game by one wicket with just 10 balls left.

A grand effort by groundsman Dennis Booth and a team of volunteers ensured the game was able to take place, with a delayed start meaning the contest was restricted to 37 overs a side.

Tetbury won the toss and inserted Stone, for whom Pete Lavis and Sherman made a positive start until the dazed skipper was caught at slip off Sam Price for 15.

Lavis was next to go for 20, followed by Tim Lezard, who was caught at extra cover off a leading edge for 13, and Dave Jones who was bowled by a grubber for a brutal 21 off 18 balls.

Peter Booth was looking good until he went for 31, closely followed by Arron Lennard for a silver duck and Keston Peters (3). Chris Barnes hit a powerful 15 before Ian Hall was out for a bronze duck, leaving Charlie Viney (5) and James Barnes (1) the not out batters.

Stone finished on 129-9, with Michael Baverstock being the pick of the Tetbury bowlers with 3-18.

In reply, the home team made the perfect start, with Sam Price fending off a short ball from Lavis straight to Peters at short midwicket. Wickets continued to tumble as Viney dismissed Tom Horrell for four then James Meacham and Ryan Leather for ducks, the former courtesy of a sharp slip catch by Jones.

James Barnes replaced Lavis and struck with his first ball, comprehensively bowling Michael Baverstock for five, leaving Tetbury staring down the barrel at 10-5.

But the away side dug deep and as Ben Evans slowly accumulated runs, it freed up Simon Baverstock to swing his bat, picking out the gaps in the field.

As Tetbury edged closer to their target, there was a moment of controversy when Evans was warned, for the second time, for running on the pitch. There was a five-minute delay as the umpires checked the rules to see whether a five-run penalty should be imposed. The rules stated if Evans infringed again, he would be dismissed.

As it happened, he was dismissed the very next over anyway, adjudged lbw to James Barnes for a watchful, and ultimately match-winning, 48. The next over Lavis knocked out Baverstock’s off stump (28) to put the game back in the balance,with Tetbury needing four to win with just two wickets remaining.

The game got even tighter when James Barnes bowled Mark Schumm for a duck, only for Alex Evans to punch three runs through the offside to level the scores.

Number 11 Jamie Ponting connected with the next ball, sending it towards Lavis at midwicket. The stand-in skipper flung himself forward and took a terrific catch, only for the ball to fall from his grasp as his elbow jarred in the turf. In the meantime, Tetbury scrambled the single that won the match.

Stone’s bowlers did well (Viney 3-12, Barnes 3-15 and Lavis 2-18) but conceding 39 extras proved costly.

The result sees Tetbury replace Stone at the top of the table after seven games, with Stone in third.