Thriplow (153 all out) lost to Horseheath (154-4) by six wickets Thriplow failed to post a competitive total and left Horseheath with a six wicket defeat in CCA Senior League Division One. Batting first after a series of failed run chases, Thriplow s new

Thriplow (153 all out) lost to Horseheath (154-4) by six wickets

Thriplow failed to post a competitive total and left Horseheath with a six wicket defeat in CCA Senior League Division One.

Batting first after a series of failed run chases, Thriplow's new look opening pair of Robert Craze and Chris Neild looked confident with Craze seeing the shine off the new ball before being bowled for a duck by one from Ellis that swung and seamed.

Neild (4) then nicked a catch behind leaving Martin Craze and Paul Staley to mount a rescue. They did successfully, taking the score comfortably to 50 when Staley (26) was caught in two minds and lifted tamely to point.

Son Tom joined Craze and these two, despite being out of the runs for some weeks, put together a confident stand before Staley (19) was caught.

Continuing the family way, brother Andrew joined Martin and again looked to put together a partnership.

Eventually with his first half century of the season beckoning, Martin missed a straight one and was bowled for an excellent 46.

The lower order failed to function and it was left to Andy Craze (37) with some lusty blows to take Thriplow to 153 all out in the 43rd over.

Early wickets were a must and, when wicket-keeper Staley caught danger man Goldsmith in Andy Morris's second over, things looked good.

However, old hands Mick and Alan Ketteridge then dug in and were immovable despite numerous bowling rotations. Richie Turner was the most dangerous of the Thriplow attack and he eventually removed Mick for 59 but the damage was done.

Thriplow were well beaten with plenty of overs to spare.

THRIPLOW III lost yet another close game on Saturday, with lack of runs being their eventual downfall.

Put into bat by Babraham, tight bowling meant Thriplow found runs hard to come by.

After losing Hyman to a run out, Jones to a catch at mid-on, and Berks lbw, they were on a precarious 33-3 after 15 overs.

Davies then stepped on the run rate before Staley called him for an impossible single and another run-out resulted. Staley's departure followed almost immediately, leaving Thriplow 58-5.

The father-son partnership of Steve and Will Hart then consolidated well and pushed Thriplow on to 89 before Will Hart was bowled, followed by Ayre who hit his second ball straight to point.

Collins and Hart added 18 runs before Collins was bowled, soon followed by the dismissal of Hays and finally Hart to a controversial caught behind decision for 16.

Thriplow finished on 113 with 10 balls of their 40 overs unused.

Babraham lost opener Liles early, with Collins taking the catch off Dixon, who finished with 1-19 off his 10 overs.

After a tidy four overs from Hays at the other end, Hyman took over and took two valuable wickets thanks to two fine catches behind the stumps from Staley.

When Davies and Hart then each took a wicket at the start of their spells, Babraham were in trouble on 55-5 and over half the overs gone.

But Babraham's sixth wicket pair consolidated and at 84-5 they looked well set and the game looked to have slipped beyond Thriplow.

However, the introduction of a reluctant Ayre into the attack suddenly put Thriplow right back into the game, bowling both of the incumbent pair with his second and fourth balls.

Ayre eventually finished with 2-14. New batsmen Watkins and Witmore never looked comfortable, but they stuck to their task well and Thriplow couldn't find another breakthrough with Babraham eventually passing Thriplow's score with a couple of overs remaining.