Kington II v Eastnor II

EASTNOR travelled to county rivals and table-topping Kington for their penultimate league game and elected to bat.

On an easily-paced wicket, opener Dave Jones (42) quickly set about the Kington attack dispatching the ball to all parts. Mark Wildig wasbowled early on by Kington captain Chris George. Scott Roberts continued his form with the bat with a bright innings of 21 before being adjudged lbw.

This brought the classy Adam Greaves (59) to the crease just before Jones departed as another victim of the Kington skipper. Danny Baker showed a return to form with a swift 21. Eastnor captain Jon Peplow (52) then joined Greaves and quick-fire partnership of 88 rattled the away team score towards the 200 mark, both batsmen reaching their half centuries before losing their wickets in the chase for runs.

Cameo innings from the evergreen Dave Entwistle (32), Matt Hale (25) and Steve Large (17no) saw the Eastnor total fall two runs short 300 mark.

Kington's reply was belligerent and they soon set about some wayward bowling by the away team openers. Control was soon gained with the first of seven Eastnor catches pouched by Jon Peplow.

Steve Large continued with some fine swing bowling but got scant reward for his efforts. He was happy with two wickets in quick succession, removing Thorne (19) and the Aussie all-rounder Don Marsh (34) with fine catches by Entwistle and Jones respectively.

The introduction of all-rounder Dave Jones (5-48) into the attack with his flight and guile soon had wickets tumbling assisted by superb catching and another magnificent wicket keeping display by Emlyn Vicarage, Kington never looked like getting anywhere near the Eastnor total and were finally all out 89 runs short despite some lustful blows by the Kington wicket keeper Francis (60).

EASTNOR III v MORRISTON

EASTNOR thirds entertained Morriston on tour from Swansea in a friendly match, losing by 53 runs.

Electing to bat the tourists lost a quick wicket to Tom Powell at 14 before D James and S Evans (45) put on 62 runs, when both fell to Dave Goodman. James Febery bowled his eight overs for just 16 runs picking up two wickets and at 81-5 in 20 overs things looked good for the villagers. However hard hitting from O Gimblett (37), A Evans (29) and D Jones (39) saw a further 120 runs come in the next 18 overs. Skipper Taylor took 3-68 and Nick Haggar 2-42 at the death.

Eastnor started badly, losing openers Panter and Hurrell with only 18 runs scored. Adam McTear (25) upped the tempo briefly before L Jones (4-47) got amongst the wickets. Taylor (20) and Haggar (21) wagged Eastnor's tail for a short time and with the help of 42 extras Eastnor were all out for 153.