WILLIAM Russell hit a superb ton, but his Thriplow teammates could not follow suit and they slipped to a narrow defeat at Horseheath. Thriplow skipper Chris Neild continued his 100 per cent record of winning the toss and inserted the home side, hoping t

WILLIAM Russell hit a superb ton, but his Thriplow teammates could not follow suit and they slipped to a narrow defeat at Horseheath.

Thriplow skipper Chris Neild continued his 100 per cent record of winning the toss and inserted the home side, hoping the damp overcast pitch would aid his seam men.

However, Goldsmith and Alan Ketteridge comfortably saw off Nigel Morris, Chris Viner and Tom Staley to take their side to 73 in only the 13th over.

When Alan Ketteridge (27) finally went, Wilson came in and looked just as confident before Goldsmith (41) played into the hands of 15-year-old Ally Cliffe and Rob Ketteridge lobbed straight to Martin Craze at short leg.

And when Cliffe saw to the threat of Wilson (10), Horseheath were suddenly on 94 for 4 with the game swinging in Thriplow's favour.

However, Ellis and Martin Ketteridge took over and despite Dickon Turner's usual nagging accuracy (12-3-32-1), the hosts took the score to 152, before they were all out for 201.

Russell and Theo Giasemidis then launched the Thriplow reply, with the 15-year-old Giasemidis looking particularly impressive as they raced to a half century partnership off just 11 overs.

However, at 52 Giasemidis (29) was caught behind, with Cliffe soon following for 3 and Paul Staley (0) and Viner (0) also quickly sent packing.

Godric Smith did offer some brief support in helping Russell take the Thriplow score to 94, but he was then caught behind following Towers' first delivery.

Russell and Martin Craze restored some hope, before Craze was dismissed for 40.

And after despatching Towers for a massive six, Russell attempted another only to sky the ball to the third man, falling for a brilliant 107.

With nine needed off the last nine balls, Neild and Morris both perished in consecutive deliveries, and Thriplow were all out for 193.

Neild said: "It was a tight game played in excellent spirit and one that saw a number of bizarre statistics, including an over in each innings with three wickets in it, and five catches for Cliffe.

"However, I think it was our five ducks that made the difference in the end."

n CAMBS Junior Division 3C leaders Sawston thirds showed Thriplow seconds the way with their third straight win.

Shorn of a few regular batsmen Thriplow opened with the makeshift combination of Carr and Dabnor, who doggedly stuck to the task and gave the home team a decent start.

Thirty runs were on the board before Carr (10) lost his off stump to a delivery that cut back sufficiently to beat the inside edge.

Tom Evans (5) making his Thriplow debut, showed promise mixed in with a little rustiness but stood firm against the pace of Athukorala before becoming the first of his four victims, ahead of Dabnor (29), Walters (10) and Sugden first ball.

Collins and Richer, each scoring 10, showed some lower middle order defiance and were able to push the score towards a total of 110 all out.

Early successes for Thriplow bowlers Tom Care (10-1-27-1) and Richie Turner (5-1-14-2) reduced Sawston to 12 for 3 in the eighth over.

Athukorala then set about securing his man-of-the-match status when he set about despatching the bowling deep into the adjacent woods.

A 6 off spinner Turner was rapidly followed by a 6 in Sugden's first over and the match complexion had changed.

Wickets continued to tumble at the other end however, primarily to Sugden in his first spell of the season, but Athukorala could not be dislodged until, at last, he was bowled by Sugden (10-1-31-5) two runs short of his 50.

With the score on 88 for 7, Thriplow were back in the hunt and the ninth wicket fell with 6 still needed for victory, achieved by last man Champness.