Fairford produced a comfortable 47 run win over Kings Stanley built around another impressive innings from Greener and a disciplined bowling and fielding performance.
Batting first Townsend a calculated change in opening partner for Leadbeater was quick to seize upon some wayward bowling and produced a flurry of boundaries before falling. The tempo was maintained by Gray, the veteran showing good form, before he to fell when seeming set for a major score. Handily placed at 71-2 the visitors, setting a tight defensive field began to check Leedbitter and Newports efforts to maintain the healthy run rate. Newports cameo ended, the first of three quick wickets to fall Leedbitter for a patient workmanlike 35, and Cook misjudging the line for no score. Town are however blessed with batting depth and this shown to good effect with the support given to Greener as first Clarke then Bullock featured in valuable stands. Greener after a shaky start again dominating the bowling produced unbeaten innings of 79 including five monstrous sixes as he played the visitors to all parts of the ground. The loss of a few late wickets flattered the visiting bowling and town closed on 217-8.
At first the town score looked inadequate as the visitors took to Bird and Clarke and raced past the 50 well above the asking rate. The introduction of Moreing and soon after Newport however checked the free scoring as town began to wrest the game from their visitors. It was not however until the 100 was reached that towns patience paid dividends, Moreing and Newport both finishing with two wickets in fine efforts, in addition to the wickets the pair had checked the scoring to the extent that the visitors then required an unrealistic 91 runs from the last 10 overs. The returning Clarke with two quick strikes and Peyman with one maintained the pressure, it was however left to Bullock taking the last two wickets with interesting deliveries as Kings Stanley where bowled out for 170.
Fairford would like to thank match ball sponsor Andrew Butler Butchers, one of the match balls still lost thanks to a monster Greener six! Fairford visit high flying Rockhampton this Saturday.
