Stroud continued their recent winning form on a beautiful day, as they overcame Cheltenham Civil Service to make it 3 wins from 3 games.

Skipper Will Golding won the toss and had no hesitation in batting. Openers Tom Horrell and James O’Brien started positively with both men hitting boundaries consistently on their way to an opening stand of 71, before Horrell was dismissed for an entertaining 31.

Dom Thompson then joined O’Brien and both continued to find the boundary with ease as they both passed 50. O’Brien was next to fall for a very well made 70 leaving Thompson to continue picking off the Civil Service bowlers with new partner Chris Job. The pair again sharing a large stand of 89 before Job was LBW for 40 attempting to up the rate even further.

Matt Smith entered the fray and was very unlucky to fall to a brilliant diving catch first ball which brought skipper Golding to join Thompson. The pair batted smartly together with Thompson bringing up a chance less 100 to finish not out on 104 and Stroud finished on 275 for 5.

Skipper Golding opened the bowling with Luke Palmer and both bowled extremely well with Golding claiming two early scalps. Palmer bowled his allotment of 10 overs straight through for a miserly 31 runs and was unlucky not to take a wicket.

Chris Job and Tom Horrell continued to keep the shackles on the Civil Service batsman and at drinks they were only 68 for 3 still needing over 200 to win in 25 overs.

Gavin Dean entered the attack and claimed two quick wickets and skipper Golding the same as he finished up with 4 for 29.

It was left to the veteran Paul Frape to pick up the last wicket with only his second delivery as Civil Service finished on 159 all out.

A special mention to Sam Hewitt who fielded extremely well and to James Job for his continued support as he recovers from injury.

Man of the match was Dom Thompson, a class above with the bat.