11:49am Sunday 25th July 2010
By Mercury sports reporter
ASHCOTT and Shapwick entertained former Premier One champions Cheltenham on Saturday, looking for revenge after a drubbing earlier in the season.
Captain Ben Rudge won the toss and elected to field, but the visitors failed to make an early breakthrough, with Cheltenham reaching 45 without loss after nine overs.
It was Rudge (3-32) who took the first scalp, castling Ferbrache with a beauty.
However, just like last week at Warminster, the real turning point came with the early introduction of the spin of Wayne Spencer (2-25) and the steady swing of Nayan Karmarkar (3-14).
The brakes were firmly put on the Cheltenham innings as the surviving opener Walker ran out of scoring options.
Gallagher tried to reverse sweep his way out of trouble but was well caught behind by Sam Edmunds, standing up to the stumps.
Tom Barr then dismissed George Pearson; James Hayman taking a fine catch at short extra cover, before some late hitting took Cheltenham to 130 all out.
The visitors received a glimmer of hope in the third over of Shapwick’s reply, when Spencer was caught sharply at gully for two.
However, Steve Tinnion (35) and Karmarkar (53) then began to dominate, racing along at five an over against some extremely poor bowling.
Off-spinner Ben McHardie-Jones (3-31) was easily the pick of Cheltenham’s attack and he eventually tempted Tinnion into a lofted shot with just 30 needed to win.
Shapwick will be very disappointed they then proceeded to lose three more wickets, costing them two batting bonus points, although Edmunds could feel extremely aggrieved at the lbw decision he received.
Next week Shapwick travel to Thornbury.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/trade_directory/