AFTER Thriplow s young guns display last week, it was the turn of the older players to step up and show the youngsters that they still had it in them by putting newly-promoted Balsham to the sword. Put into bat, Balsham s openers profited as Nigel Morris

AFTER Thriplow's young guns display last week, it was the turn of the older players to step up and show the youngsters that they still had it in them by putting newly-promoted Balsham to the sword.

Put into bat, Balsham's openers profited as Nigel Morris and Malcolm Gilmer struggled to find their rhythm and Balsham pair Barnes and Housden looked untroubled.

Enter old spin twins Dickon Turner and Chris Neild who turned back the years and soon the opposition crumbled from 99-1 to 146- 9 after 24 overs.

Turner started the damage by bringing one back through the gate to bowl Barnes for 42 and from then on it was downhill for Balsham.

Keeper Jan Arriens, belied his 63-years to collect two smart stumpings. His safe hands behind the stumps were in marked contrast to the youthful outfielders.

Neild finished with 6-34 and Turner 2-40 and although Balsham's last pair added some useful runs at the end, their total of 165-9 looked well short.

Although Will Russell fell lbw early on, Turner and Paul Staley took the score serenely on albeit in somewhat differing fashion. Turner's solid defence was coupled with an inability to find the middle of the bat and he quietly amassed a 15 runs in 20 overs at the crease.

After hitting two boundaries Turner was replaced by Chris Viner, who included a square cut for six over extra cover in a quick fire 27.

Matt Ayre then joined Staley and gave a master class in turning comfortable two's into singles.

In the end Ayre fell for 17, and Staley remained 82 not out as he and Duncan Walker saw Thriplow home by six wickets with four overs to spare.