Glos/Wilts division 1st XI; Rockhampton (171-5) beat Goatacre (170-8) by five wickets
ROCKHAMPTON made it three wins from their last three matches with an impressive victory over Wiltshire side Goatacre.
After being asked to bat on a slightly damp wicket the visitors had responded well to reach a solid 83-1 before Jack Spence (10-2-34-1), who was in the middle of an impressive spell, knocked back the off stump of Lines in the 17th over.
After a tight opening spell, youngster Will Cartlidge was called back into the attack and he responded by comprehensively bowling J Wilkins for four and finally ended with impressive figures of 10-5-19-1. After left armer James Hancox had toiled away without reward, the golden arm of Mark Beale was brought into the attack and, courtesy of a smart catch from Will Cartlidge at short mid-wicket, he duly removed opening batsman Horton for 62. A clatter of wickets followed as Beale bowled both Haines and A Iles, and Hancox (15-1-56-2) finally joined the party by taking the wickets of E Wilkins and Parish as Goatacre lost five middle order wickets for 20 runs. Beale took the wicket of K Iles for 24, pouched by skipper Simon Hore in the gully, as the visitors' innings stuttered to 170-8 from their allotted 50 overs with the standout bowler being Beale, who returned remarkable figures of 7-1-19-4.
Rockhampton's run chase got off to a bad start when last week's batting hero Rowan Cartlidge was adjudged lbw to the fiery Gibbens for six.
Goatacre were then delighted to trap Will Tyler lbw for 27 to leave the game delicately poised with the Rams on 51-2.
Old heads Jerry White and Nigel Hopkins then combined to add a patient 42 before White (36) holed out in the deep looking to up the run rate. With Rockhampton needing five an over from the final 15 overs, a rate in excess of any achieved in the game so far, it required something special to bring about victory and 17-year-old Matt Belbin duly obliged.
The powerful youngster showed no sign of nerves in front of a gripped Boundary Field crowd as he proceeded to launch the visitors' bowling to all parts in a blistering assault that yielded 58 from just 31 balls, including two consecutive sweeps into the neighbouring field.
Belbin's partnership of 77 with Hopkins, who batted sensibly to reach an unbeaten 32, meant the Rams reached their target with 23 balls to spare.
For the second week in a row it was pleasing to see victory come courtesy of one of the club's talented youngsters.
The win sees Rockhampton inch closer to Biddestone who currently hold third place in the league.
Rockhampton would like to thank Alec Hurley for kindly sponsoring the matchball.
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