Cleeve CC 2nd team visited Hallen this weekend and, in a closely fought match with no batter passing a half century, the home team ran out winners by three wickets with just seven balls to spare.

Cleeve chose to bat first and lost Alex Soch early on as he was caught for four off Richard Grinter at 10-1.

Cleeve’s batters then threatened with a number of partnerships, but no individual player could get going for a large score.

Charlie Grubb combined well with the returning Dan Dixon before Grubb holed out for 20 at 36-2 which brought skipper George Parsons to the crease.

Parsons kept up the scoring rate as Dixon’s innings ended as he was caught and bowled off Campbell for 25.

Parsons was caught for a top score of 36 as Will Grubb, 22, Paul Todd, 16, and Robbie Wilsher, 27, all fell to Campbell, who picked up four wickets on the day.

Ellis Turner added three more runs before his dismissal, leaving Alex Grubb, 5, and James Boulton, 6, the not out batters with Cleeve posting 190-8 at the break.

Cleeve would have preferred a few more on their total but knew the batting surface was not easy to play on, so were confident they could claim a victory.

Tom Redding, 2-33 from seven overs, struck early to remove opener Clark for no score as Charlie Grubb held on to the catch to put Hallen at 3-1.

Boulton, eight overs for 36 runs, bowled well without but without success, leaving the Grubb brothers Alex, 2-31 from eight overs, and Will, 2-31 from seven overs, to bowl in tandem, picking up a brace apiece and leaving Hallen at 64-5.

The returning Redding then removed Chadler for 12 as Parsons snatched his 3rd catch of the day whilst leg spin from Turner, 1-37 from four overs, removed Grinter with help from Dixon at 117-7, as Parsons went unsuccessful for the day.

Cleeve thought they were in the game at this stage, but Hallen pushed on past Cleeve’s score with just seven balls remaining to win by three wickets.

It was frustration all round for the second team despite good all-round performances across the board, as Cleeve remain league leaders at the halfway stage of the season.

Cleeve travel to Old Cathedralians CC on July 6th hoping to get back into winning ways.