FORMER Frocester bowler Tom Furley bagged a five-wicket haul on his Stroud debut as he helped his side to a convincing win over Cheltenham 2nds.

Earlier, openers Tom Horrell and James O'Brien started well and punished anything loose to help Stroud get off to a good start.

After a brisk 15, Horrell was unlucky to chop on which then brought the returning overseas recruit Dom Thompson to the crease.

Thompson picked up where he left off last season by mixing some strong hitting with good placement, but it was O'Brien who caught the eye with some big hitting before being dismissed for a well made 34.

Chris Job, in at four, hit an early boundary and again put together a fine hundred run stand with Thompson before being dismissed for an impressive 58.

Luke Benneyworth joined Thompson and in typical fashion stroked the ball around the ground and ran well. Unfortunately Thompson fell short of a deserved hundred for 77.

The rest of the order chipped in with some valuable runs with the veteran Paul Frape finishing on 30 not out as Stroud set Cheltenham 296 to win.

James Job and new signing Tom Furley shared the new ball and after clearing away some early season rust, both caused the Cheltenham batsman numerous problems.

Furley removed three of the top five and Job one to leave Cheltenham in big trouble.

Captain Will Golding then rotated himself, Frape, Chris Job and Gavin Dean who all tied down the Cheltenham batsman with both Frape and Job taking a wicket a piece.

Furley and James Job then returned to take the last three Cheltenham wickets in less than nine balls to wrap up a convincing win and a fine start to the season.

Star man - Tom Furley. It was a fine start for Furley to his Stroud career taking 5-47 in eight overs of good pace bowling.