A YOUTHFUL Thriplow side fought to the end but eventually succumbed to a four-wicket defeat at the hands of St Ives. With the track damp from overnight and morning rain, the toss was going to be highly influential and, setting the tone for the day, the l

A YOUTHFUL Thriplow side fought to the end but eventually succumbed to a four-wicket defeat at the hands of St Ives.

With the track damp from overnight and morning rain, the toss was going to be highly influential and, setting the tone for the day, the luck went with the away side as Thriplow were put in.

Opening pair Martin Craze and Ally Cliffe were watchful and patient though and, while the scoring rate was never excessive, they successfully weathered a testing opening salvo, and took the score to 64 in the 26th over.

Craze then fell to a stunning one-handed diving catch by Withers for 28.

This heralded a mini collapse as Cliffe (21), Will Wright and Chris Viner all fell quickly to leave the score 70 for 4.

However, Theo Giasemidis and Andy Craze set about repairing the damage but another stunning catch by Moore off his own bowling saw Craze dismissed for 22.

Giasemidis (10) and Andy Morris were then both caught, and it was left to Robert Craze to push singles and support skipper Chris Neild who hit a brisk 28 in the final few overs as Thriplow finished on 148 for 8.

On paper this was never going to trouble the strong St Ives line up, but Andy Morris took two early wickets and Robert Craze had R Greiller well caught by Cliffe to give Thriplow a faint hope.

However, Woolley, Sequenza and M Greiller saw the score past the 100 mark, before Neild and the returning Nigel Morris left St Ives wobbling at 126 for 6.

But the visitors responded well with Williams and Leach seeing St Ives home in the 41st over without further loss.

Thriplow captain Neild said: " We were beaten, but we can take a lot of heart that our youth policy has taken another step forward, and the youngest side we have ever put out has not been outclassed.