Oldlands’ unbeaten start to the season came to an end on Saturday with an ultimately disappointing defeat to Cheltenham Civil Service after working hard to get themselves into a winning position.

Bowling well at the start of the game, a lack of concentration and poor catching in a sloppy last 12 overs allowed the visitors to score 25 more than would have been a par score on a wicket offering plenty of encouragement for any bowler prepared to stay patient and keep putting the ball in the right areas.

The Civil Service bowlers did this to good effect with the new ball, although openers George Pennington and Steve Heaven battled well in an opening stand of 41.

After Pennington was unlucky with a straight one that kept low, Rob Frost (41) joined Heaven (34) and both looked in good touch to set a up a great platform before both were caught in quick succession having worked hard to get themselves in.

With only three wickets down, though, and Sean Rocke and Mike Colborn comfortably maintaining the asking rate of a run a ball, the home side once again looked to be heading for a third straight league win.

The direction of the game was then to take a massive and decisive twist, however, as a back foot straight drive from Rocke was fumbled by the bowler and freakishly deflected onto the stumps leaving Colborn stranded out of his ground.

The incoming batsmen then found it difficult to maintain the required rate against some tight bowling and fielding.

With wickets falling at regular intervals as the pressure mounted, the home side eventually came up short.