Uphill Castle Cavaliers were crushed by promotion candidates Butleigh by 142 runs.

UPHILL Cavaliers lost at home to second placed team Butleigh by the crushing margin of 142 runs.

However, there were some positives to take from the experience. Reduced to nine players by chronic availability problems, Castle did well in the field to restrict the visitors to 236-3, particularly as opener Gibbs scored a fluent unbeaten 134 not out.

Particular credit goes to the 15-year-old pair of James Holt and Hallam Bickell, who bowled 22 overs between them, maintaining excellent control of line and length.

Evergreen stalwarts, Tony Moore and Bob Hurford also put in good spells, but there were few chances offered as Gibbs and Trevis put on 140 for the first wicket, when the latter was caught at short extra cover by Nigel Cook off Hurford, who followed up by bowling Edgar.

Hallam Bickell also deservedly picked up a wicket, clean bowling Smith and returned 1-41 from his 10 overs. Hurford took 2-53 from his 12. A flurry of late boundaries from Gibbs took the score to 236-3 after 45 overs.

Unfortunately, the Cavaliers batting did not get a good start, as two self-inflicted run outs reduced them to 22-4. It was left to evergreen Dave Bickell to try and pull the fat out of the fire. He made 47 runs in a stand of 71 with Bob Hurford (19), to seize the initiative from the increasingly frustrated visitors.

However, any faint hopes of an unlikely win were dashed when the fall of Hurford’s wicket triggered an almost instant disintegration from 93-4 to 94-8 (all out).

Specsavers man of the match was Dave Bickell.

Cavaliers now need a win at Glastonbury on the final day of the league season on Saturday to avoid relegation.