Six of the best for Allport

RD3 SW PAULTONS  III    111 SWAY  III    114 - 4

Sway 3rd XI continued their recent improved form with a relatively comfortable win over their counterparts from Paultons.

Batting first at the delightful setting of Minstead, Paultons openers T.Sydenham and R.Cottingwood got away to a flying start with Cottingwood in particular peppering the short boundary's. It took a good catch from Henry Marden running round at deep mid wicket to remove Cottingwood for 32 off of Steve Drayton with the total on 57. This started a steady decline in the Paultons batting as Lewis Marden ( 1 -21 ) then bowled Sydenham for 18 and Charlie Smith and Michael Allport joined the attack. Smith trapped both B.Hulbert and dangerman, the experienced ym.Homewood lbw and Allport's accurate spin tore through the rest of the batting as Paulton's subsided to 111 all out with U15s star claiming a personal best of 6 for 25.

Pete Bennet and Dave Hurrell then had 10 overs to play before tea and Hurrell started with 3 fours off of B.Chandler's first over before left arm spinner K.Minards turned one past Bennet's defence in the 8th over. Tom Burton and Hurrell saw Sway safely through to tea at 30 - 1. Hurrell obviously enjoyed too many cakes at tea as he was soon run out for the second time this season going for an optimistic second run bringing George Lewis into bat. Lewis attacked from the start and Burton looked very much at ease and these two almost saw Sway home before Hulbert bowled Lewis for 35 with the score at 101. Chandler and Homewood returned to the attack and with Paulton's maintaining a high standard of fielding they were harder to shift than a bargain weekend at Crossings Cottage B&B! Smith was bowled by Chandler and it wasn't until the 32nd over that Steve Thistleton hit the winning boundary with Burton unbeaten on 34. 

Report by Dave Hurrell

Milky Bar Kid: 6 for 25