LYMPSHAM travelled to Stoke Gifford hoping to extend their unbeaten run.

LYMPSHAM travelled to Stoke Gifford hoping to extend their unbeaten run.

Luff won the toss and inserted the opposition on a hard, bouncy track. Geoff Tucker struck in his first over when Rod Simpson took a sharp catch at gully. Stoke Gifford progressed to 76 before Saleem ran himself out with wicketkeeper Steve Gwinnell hitting the stumps at the bowler's end.

Geoff Tucker claimed two more wickets to finish his great spell of 14-0-57-3, but runs were difficult to restrict on this small ground.Black finally fell to a skied catch to Summers for an aggressive 98.

Simon Bailey bowled a steady spell of 15-1-71-2, with 32 runs coming off his last three overs. The more mature Lympsham fielders were beginning to flag resulting in Stoke Gifford posting a formidable 245-9.

Mike Tucker and Andy Greed began the run chase in confident fashion; but with the extra bounce being produced by the Stoke Gifford bowlers, and a number of chances being dropped in the slips this enabled an opening stand of 98 off the first 25 overs.

The first Lympsham wicket to fall was that of Greed who was caught for 30. This brought Dave Luff to the wicket who was in an aggressive mood and with Mike Tucker playing well at the other end they pushed the score to 184 before Luff holed out to extra cover for a stylish 39. Still needing 61 off seven overs, Mike Tucker sacrificed his wicket being bowled for a magnificent 77.

The 40th over changed the game in Lympsham's favour; with 45 still required Rich Coles hit the first two balls for boundaries before being caught. Then Jason Parsons hit two of the biggest straight sixes seen for a long time. Twenty off the over was just what was needed, but Lympsham did not let up; another six from Parsons and one from Geoff Tucker left Lympsham needing one to win off the last over.

After one ball victory was achieved, Parsons hitting a vital 29 not out. This was a brilliant victory but credit must go to Stoke Gifford for a great game of cricket. Lympsham Concrete man of the match was Mike Tucker for his match winning innings of 77.

Lympsham 2nds entertained Twyford House looking to repeat their previous victory over the opposition.

Captain Ben Laing won the toss and elected to bat and Lympsham started cautiously against some tight bowling and lost two wickets in the 12th over with the score on 35. Derek Evans (20), Ben Laing (40) and Darren Clapp (24) provided some middle order stability to help the hosts to 116-5 off 30 overs.

The introduction of joint Academie Fiscale Ltd men of the match Steve Drew (59 not out) and Simon Pilgrim (42 not out) propelled Lympsham into a strong position as the pair put on 101 in the last nine overs, leaving the home side with a competitive total of 237-6.

In reply, Twyford began aggressively, but Simon Pilgrim (5-60) picked up the first two wickets to leave the game finely balanced with the hosts 70-2 off 12 overs. The third wicket pair began to take the game to Lympsham, punishing anything loose in a fine display of batting. The pair put on 124 to leave the opposition 194-2 off 33 overs before Simon Cowgill (2-73) returned to the attack to make the crucial breakthrough.

With the game evenly balanced, Lympsham began to build pressure on the new batsmen and wickets started to tumble. Pilgrim finally removed the opener Smith (83) in the 41st over, but by then the opposition required 14 runs and it proved too little too late as Twyford reached the total off 43.2 overs finishing 240-7.

The Development XI made the journey to Failand and Portbury, and were invited to bowl on a damp wicket following some earlier rain.

The home team advanced to 80 for 2 off 15 overs, with Derek Evans taking two wickets in two balls, before the rain came and ended the match prematurely