DEFENDING a woefully low score of just 134, Minch’s bowlers put in a tremendous shift to bowl visitors King’s Stanley out for just 124 – one of the highlights being an exceptional final nine overs under pressure shared by the two youngest team members.

After the Auster brothers opened promisingly for Minch, both perished for 17 a-piece with John Ablett and Alex Waring looking to put together a very useful partnership. But they too both found themselves back in the pavilion with under 90 scored and only resistance from Jack Cartledge with 12 gave the host’s total any air of respectability.

Keith Atkinson was the pick of the Stanley bowlers with 3-10.

In reply Neil Smith and Craig Mills provided the top order runs for Stanley but wickets were tumbling with three leg before wickets given and John Turton at his wily best.

The introduction of Benny Ittyavira had Stanley on the back foot and after he chipped in with three wickets the pendulum had swing towards Minch. Renowned big hitter BJ Fry couldn’t get going but with the final nine to be bowled, Minch skipper Jaime Waring had bowled out his four seasoned bowlers and turned to teenagers Matt Hole and Jack Cartledge. They didn’t let him down bowling tightly and each taking a wicket to give Minch a tightly fought win by just 10 runs. Highlights in the field were three catches for John Ablett and a superb acrobatic effort for Howard Auster.

Next week Minchinhampton visit Sheepscombe hoping their batters find some form.