Colwall Third XI sealed an exciting victory in their last league game against Kington Thirds at Ghost Meadow, Colwall, on Saturday.

COLWALL III v KINGTON III

The home side played a much younger team than normal with a number of highly promising colts making their third team debut and all made a more than useful contribution

However it was the effervescent pair of Holland and Baylis who saw the home side to victory. Baylis (29) joined Holland (25) with Colwall needing 55 runs to victory with seven wickets down and ten overs remaining. With some controlled hitting and intelligent running they triumphed with one over to spare.

On a slow damp wicket, but still one of the best in the county, Kington benefited from some poor fielding and dropped catches as Thorne (83), B George (26), M Hall (39) and Pouney (25no) made the most of their luck and finished with 201-5 off their allotted 45 overs.

Kevin Baylis was the pick of the bowlers with 3-45 which could and should have been at least seven wickets.

In their reply Colwall got off to an excellent start with a half century partnership between veteran Nils Purser (33) and 15-year-old debutant Tom McClennan (29). A stand of 45 between club chairman Alastair Smith (15) and Brian Goode (35) looked as though the home side were going to cruise home.

But the loss of three wickets for seven runs turned the tide in favour of Kington until Kevin Baylis strode to the wicket to join skipper Keith Holland and showed their prowess with the bat to the delight of spectators who had been urging their side on to victory.

Colwall Thirds, in their first season in Flint & Cook Marches League Division Four, have showed that they can more than hold their position against 1st and 2nd XI teams.