IN glorious sunshine at Spaxton Playing Fields home captain Dave Pople elected to bowl on what looked like a very good batting wicket in the scorching heat.

After 10 overs the visitors had moved onto 33 without loss. The run rate increased after a drinks break and eventually with the total on 113 John Bishop made the breakthrough in the 20th over.

Wickets continued to be hard to come by but the Spaxton bowlers stuck well to their task and at the end of 40 overs had limited their visitors to 236 for five, Bishop ending with three for 43 while there was one each for Richy Baker and Dan Andison.

In reply Spaxton openers Dickie Budd and Dan Rich added 26 before the latter was out for 13 in the sixth over.

Andison joined Budd and the pair took Spaxton onto 68 in the 17th over when Budd departed for 10.

Bishop, returning after absenting himself to attend to his stable duties finally joined Andison who on 34, looking to up the rate holed out at long off and Spaxton were 103 for three still needing 133 from 18 overs.

Adam Richards and Bishop set about the bowling and after some clean striking had moved the score onto 155 for three in the 29th when Bishop was bowled for 32. Richards soon followed bowled after blasting 46 from just 30 balls, which meant that Spaxton still had a lot to do and needed 66 from the final nine overs.

In the end it was left to Pople who ended unbeaten on 39 ably supported by Baker who hit 30 off 26 balls to see Spaxton home with eight balls to spare.

Spaxton CC would like to thank match sponsor Ed Boyce from Boyce and Co, https://www.boyce-solicitors.co.uk/ local solicitors who specialise in Motoring and Criminal offences .