Fairford's losing streak stretches now to three matches, this a five wicket defeat against a lowly Tewkesbury side that played to and had the better of the conditions on a fresh wicket required due to the torrential rain earlier in the week, in a match far more attritional than the run feasts of late.

Asked to bat town struggled for long periods against a limited but disciplined bowling attack that exploited the rapidly drying wicket. After Clarke departed for 12, Townsend regained some form with a rapid run a ball 33 before falling to a boundary catch, it was a dismissal repeated by most other town batters. Earlier Leadbeater fell for a diligent 29, then another quick wicket reduced town to 91-4 after 33 overs. Once again Greener stood out for his clean hitting, launching three sixes in his 30, it was however to be some controlled batting from Newport aided by an industrious innings from the youthful Cook that enabled town to close on 168-7 a score that looked defendable in the conditions.

Town, needing both control and early wickets opened with a varied attack, Leadbeater rotating his bowling resources. Despite some tight bowling to well set and hardworking fields only a single wicket had fallen, this to Messer up to the drinks break as Tewkesbury crawled closer to the 100. Once again the drinks break looked to have galvanised town as Newport and Moreing took two quick wickets each reducing Tewkesbury to 106-5. Thereafter town with limited bowling resources could not break a scratchy looking partnership that enjoyed and rode its luck, Eckersley in particular punishing errors to see his side home, although town will look at the 30 extras offered in alow scoring game with some dissapointment.

Town have two matches in which to regain both some form and a top three position that they look like losing for the first time this season.