Top bowling from Cleeve 2s’ Tom Baughan and Freddie Basnett coupled with a 94-run partnership between Robbie Wilsher and Will Grubb put the squad back into winning ways with a five-wicket win over second placed Old Cathedralians.

Cleeve skipper George Parsons asked Old Caths to bat first on the grassy, uncovered surface of the away ground.

Baughan, 3-14 from eight overs, and Basnett, 2-21 from seven, bowled with fire during their opening spells but had little luck.

Baughan did well to keep his nerve after seeing two catches spilled and finally got his first wicket as he removed Praveen Kumar with an LBW for 4 at 5-1.

Basnett then nabbed a brace by removing Morrison and Shah as Alfie Parsons and Will Grubb held on, to put Old Caths at 19-3 after 10 overs.

Mahanti and Vanamu were then removed by Baughan as George Parsons held on twice to put the home side at 39-5.

Will Grubb, 2-26 from seven over, added two more scalps as he bowled one and Alfie Parsons held on for his second catch of the day.

A change to spin finally brought welcome runs for Old Caths, but it also a wicket apiece for Alfie Parsons, 1-24 from two overs, and Ellis Turner, 2-23 from three, whilst George Parsons went unsuccessful from his seven overs for 28 runs.

Only Sazeed Parvej showed resistance hitting for the home side as he hit 74 off 72 balls before Robbie Wilsher dismissed him LBW on the third ball of this first over, putting Old Caths all out for 156 in the 35th.

 

In reply, Cleeve lost openers Charlie Grubb for two and Dan Dixon 7, as both were caught at 10-2.

Will Grubb and George Parsons then added 51 runs between them before Parsons was bowled at 61-3.

Alfie Parsons and Ben Morris added could then only manage to add three more between them before both were dismissed, bringing Wilsher to the crease to play second fiddle to the dominant Grubb.

Both players ended not out as Cleeve passed the required score in the 30th over to claim the five-wicket win, with Wilsher on 33 and Grubb hitting 74.

The win widens Cleeve gap at the top of Division 8 West by 26 points and next Saturday, Cleeve host local rivals Backwell Flaxbourton, looking to extend that lead.