THRIPLOW returned to winning ways as a strong batting performance saw them run out comfortable winners by 124 runs over Ely at the Cricket Meadow.

Having won the toss, the Ely skipper invited Thriplow to bat – a surprising decision given the rock hard Thriplow track plus the searing heat. However, opening bowlers Storey and Buck kept things tight early on as Daniel Carr and Theo Giasemidis found runs hard to come by.

After jointly accumulating only 11 runs off six overs, Giasemidis (8) was caught behind and although Martin Craze (20) looked solid, he was bowled two balls later. And things got worse shortly afterwards when Thriplow run-machine, Ally Cliffe (0) was caught behind and the innings was in trouble at 56-3.

Despite the early wobble Paul Staley joined Carr and immediately the game changed as he took the attack to the Ely bowlers.

Although Carr was almost becalmed the scoreboard mounted rapidly thanks to Staley’s assault and at 30 overs the total had improved to 140-3. Carr (44) was then bowled by Lucraft but this only brought son Tom to join his father and the runs kept on coming.

Having been talked into a swift three by his son, senior Staley pulled a calf muscle which looked as though it might hamper his innings but, instead, he went on to hit a brilliant century before eventually being bowled for 109 after attempting a reverse sweep.

Tom Staley (41), Chris Viner (17) and Andy Morris (21*) then made sure the Ely bowling was despatched all around the ground as Thriplow doubled their score in the last 15 overs to finish on 286-7.

The Ely fielders had wilted badly in the heat and they had it all to do if they were going to chase down the target.

After tea, Ely looked to start well but immediately lost Farnaby (5), bowled by Woolley. However, Hatcher and Baker pushed on and Thriplow needed a breakthrough. This came in skipper Neild’s first over as Hatcher (16) skied a full toss to Morris at mid-off.

Finch was then caught by Viner a couple of overs later but this brought in Dasgupta who, with Baker, pushed Ely on to 114.

However, as the run-rate increased, Neild finally turned one to bowl Baker (58) and with that, Ely’s hopes were gone.

Neild (5-63) nabbed a further brace courtesy of good catches by Morris and Woolley, while at the other end Olly Richer (2-35) had much less reward for a beautiful spell, despite a series of confident lbw shouts.

After Viner (1-11) gained a decision from a much less likely looking appeal, Woolley (3-17) returned to tidy up the tail to leave Ely all out 162 and Thriplow the victors.