Cricket- County Division Four (East)
Stoke Climsland v Grampound Road II
Stoke Climsland entertained Grampound Road IIs on Saturday. The pitch had suffered under the rain late in the week and was much like those of April rather than July. Grampound won the all-important toss and opted to bowl first.
Stoke slipped to 17 for three from 12 overs against good bowling from S Matthews and Blake in particular. Martin Firth continued his recent good form, taking the score to 48 before further loss. When he departed for a fine 37 with the total score on 57, Stoke would have settled for anything extra, but Mark Rundle marshalled the tail well, adding 14 with Mike Vanstone (10) and then 17 for the last wicket with Alan Parker (two n.o.). Rundle finally fell for 23 from the penultimate ball. The score stood at 102 and Stoke had something to bowl at. Blake (three for 20) did the early damage with the new ball and spinner Underwood destroyed the lower order, taking five for 31 from 11 overs.
In reply, Grampound Road started slowly against Parker and Bennett but no wickets fell early on. Parker finally achieved the breakthrough, catching Wynall (20) off his own bowling. Rundle removed Brenton and followed up with Manuel (seven) and S Matthews (four) in quick succession. At 57 for four, the game was on again but a stand of 28 between Dolby and Cox took Road to the brink before Dolby was caught at the wicket. Cox (37 n.o.) knocked off the remaining 19 by himself to see Grampound home with 8.5 overs to spare. Bennett was again the pick of Stoke's bowlers with two for 18 from his 16 overs and Mike Vanstone took three sharp catches behind the stumps.
Scores - Stoke 102 (Furth 37; Rundle 23; Underwood 5-31; Blake 3-20). G. Road II 104-5 (Cox 37 n.o.; Wignall 20; Bennett 2-18).
G. Road II (19) beat Stoke (four) by five wickets.