FOLLOWING last week’s demolition of the then league leaders Frocester, Oldlands arguably produced an even better performance to crush the new top side at The Park on Saturday.
Once again fielding first, Oldlands’ opening bowlers surprisingly found little assistance from a well grassed pitch. The home side had comfortably made their way to 42 with little alarm before Chris Davis (1-15) made the vital breakthrough, beating the defensive stroke with pace and uprooting the middle stump.
Once the initiative had been grasped, it was never surrendered and a superbly disciplined bowling performance from Steve Heaven (3-39 from 12 overs), Brad Thomas (3-12 from three overs) and skipper Steve Pennington (3-15 from ten overs) saw the strong Cirencester batting line up collapse to 127 all out.
The bowling was once again backed up by an excellent all round team effort in the field, with Thomas leading the way with three top catches, closely followed by a well judged effort from brother Tim and a sharp stumping from keeper Bobby Woolams.
Once Woolams had taken seven from the first over the momentum continued with the O’s and they punished anything slightly off line or length.
Woolams led the way with a scintillating unbeaten innings of 72 that thoroughly demoralised the home bowlers.
Quality support was provided by Thomas with a cultured 43 not out and the target was passed comfortably in only the 23 over.
With Frocester losing again against Birdlip the league is now wide open with the top four, including Oldlands, all in with a realistic chance of the title.
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