A DEPLETED Strollers side came through with another Flint & Cook Marches League division five victory against an improved Hereford City side.

After being put into bat, the home side posted a below par 174-6 from their allotted overs.

After the loss of an early wicket, opener James Powell and Charles Crosland steadied the ship with a partnership of 62. James Powell fell for 43 (7 fours, 1 six) when he was just opening his shoulders.

Keith Bushell helped accelerate the run rate with a tidy 23 (four 4s) before Crosland cut loose in the closing overs to finish on 63no (seven 4s, two 6s) as Strollers scored 52 in the last five overs.

A Jones was the pick of the bowling, claiming five of the six wickets for 39 runs.

The reply got off to a poor start as James Powell clean-bowled Watts and Jones in his second over to leave the score on 10-2.

After this, the visitors went along well above the required rate, until Dave Doughty was brought into the attack. He removed opener Cummins with his very first ball. He then bowled captain Thomas in his second over and finished with economical figures of 7-2 from his five overs.

Pennycook was the mainstay for the remainder of the innings as wickets fell around him. A superb spell of off-break bowling by Rob Bentley-Taylor brought him four wickets for just 17 runs, including the wicket of Pennycook for 40 (four 4s, one 6).

The last three wickets fell quickly as the innings closed 45 runs short of the target and the home side took maximum bowling points.