DESPITE fielding a slightly weakened side, Thriplow overcame a sticky start to deliver an excellent all round team performance as they comprehensively defeated a strong Horseheath team by 138 runs. For most of the season Thriplow have been forced to chase

DESPITE fielding a slightly weakened side, Thriplow overcame a sticky start to deliver an excellent all round team performance as they comprehensively defeated a strong Horseheath team by 138 runs.

For most of the season Thriplow have been forced to chase games and when they lost Martin Craze early on, there were certainly a few worried looks.

They then lost 14-year-old Theo Giasemidis on his first team debut for seven, and Paul Staley went soon after when he was caught for a brisk 19.

And Thriplow were on the ropes when Tom Staley (1) followed in his fathers footsteps to leave the hosts on 30-4.

Horseheath sensed an early finish, with Gary Ellis and Rob Ketteridge taking two wickets each.

However, Thriplow hit back, with the experienced Godric Smith and Andy Craze setting up another attack.

In particular, Craze showed exquisite timing to reach 53 before he went for lbw to Stuart Ketteridge.

Smith also did well and reached 22 before he was also lbw to a full toss from the Horseheath bowler.

At 119-5 Thriplow had their backs to the wall once more, although Kevin Scully (42) did restore some hope before he and Nathan Sugden (5) were out.

At 170-7, the experienced duo of Chris Neild (50 not out) and Dickon Turner (19 not out) were left with seven overs, and Neild followed his impressive recent form with a dazzling array of boundaries, with three sixes and five fours to reach his first half century in two years.

The partnership helped Thriplow to finish on 238-8.

With a strong Horseheath line-up, plus added to the fact that Andy Morris and Nathan Sugden were short of match practice, the game was still anyone's for the taking.

However, both Morris and Sugden rose to the task and applied some early pressure, with Morris yorking Goldsmith for five.

Dickon Turner then came into the attack, and the unpredictability of his first over seemed to confuse the powerful Mick Ketteridge, and Turner had him bowled for 12.

Rob Ketteridge then despatched a Turner full toss for a massive six, but then inexplicably lifted one to cover where Tom Staley took a sharp catch.

Alan Ketteridge had been steadily accumulating at the other end, but he could do nothing as the wickets tumbled around him.

Morris (12-2-34-3) had Giles lbw and then bowled Stuart Ketteridge off his pads, and Perry flicked Turner to mid wicket where Staley took his second catch of the game.

Turner then bagged his fourth five-wicket haul of the season (9-3-34-5) when he dismissed Baldwin lbw.

Skipper Neild then nabbed the remaining Ketteridge for 39 with Scully taking the catch to leave a shell-shocked Horseheath all out for 100.