Cricket- Stoke Climsland v St Stephen
A weakened Stoke Climsland team entertained St Stephen on Saturday on yet another damp pitch where run-scoring would proved to be difficult again. Captain Maunder won the toss and duly opted to bowl first.
St Stephen started well, reaching 28 before Stoke made the breakthrough. However, once the first wicket had been taken wickets fell regularly. St Stephen were finally bowled out for 69 in just 32 complete overs. Jon Sweet top scored with 26 and Rollet (14) and Parkinson (12) both chipped in. However, only these three batsmen reached double figures. Stoke held all their catches and shared the wickets around. New ball pair Bennett and Parker took 3-23 and 2-23 respectively, but Mark Rundle, back after injury and in his first real bowl for Stoke Climsland took centre stage. He recorded figures of four overs, four maidens, nil runs and four wickets.
Stoke opened with Maunder and Gaggini, but at 10-2 the game was soon in the balance. Stoke crawled towards the victory target and limped over the line in the 41st over after losing seven wickets. Lambert(20) top scored. Mark Rundle saw Stoke home with 11 not out and his batting proved just as valuable as his earlier bowling effort. St Stephen bowled well with left armer Barker (2-13) the pick but all the youngsters looked promising.
Scores -St Stephen 69 (Sweet 26; Rundle 4-0, Bennett 3-23). Stoke 70-7 (Lambert 20; Barker 2-13, Hart 2-14).
Stoke (16 pts) bt St Stephen (four) by three wkts.
County Four (East)