Uphill Castle fell 25 runs short in a high-scoring run chase against Staplegrove.

UPHILL Castle lost an entertaining high-scoring game against Staplegrove by 25 runs.

Batting first, Staplegrove got off to a good start against a good opening spell from George Cox, who frequently beat the bat with no luck, before Jake Pantling was bowled by Sam Matthews for 19.

Sizer and Thomas Pantling put together a good partnership with both punishing the bad ball. Sizer was eventually well caught and bowled by Bail for an excellent 53.

Pantling and Bishop formed a formidable partnership and accelerated the scoring rate as Pantling reached 103 before falling lbw to Cattermole and Bishop crashed a rapid 62 as Staplegrove finished on 274-4. Pick of the bowlers were Cox 10-2-33-1 and Matthews 8-0-34-1.

With a large total to chase down, Uphill made a valiant attempt to reach the target and at one time were in the driving seat.

Krish Kumar and Dave Millard got Uphill off to an excellent start, putting on 76 for the first wicket before Kumar was caught on the boundary for a well struck 39 and Millard (45) chopped one onto his stumps with the score on 99.

Luke Bliss and Ty Watson put together an excellent partnership of 114 when Bliss miscued a full toss and was caught for a well struck 64. Cattermole and Watson followed quickly which left Uphill on 228 with 50 required off the last five overs which was too much for the remaining batsmen as the Uphill innings closed on 249-8.

Autosmart man of the match went to Luke Bliss.

STAPLEGROVE

T Pantling lbw Cattermole 103

J Pantling b Matthews 19

D Sizer c&b Bail 53

I Bishop not out 62

M Bird c Watson b Cox 9

C Reed not out 5

Extras 23

Total (4 wkts) 274

Bowling: G Cox 10-2-33-1; K Kumar 3-0-27-0; S Cattermole 9-0-70-1; S Matthews 8-0-34-1; L Bliss 10-0-47-0; M Bail 10-0-57-1.

UPHILL CASTLE

K Kumar c Sizer b Bird 39

D Millard b Bishop 45

T Watson c Read b T Pantling 52

L Bliss c Sizer b T Pantling 64

S Cattermole c Bishop b Sizer 5

G Cox c T Pantling b Sizer 5

G Williams c Bird b Sizer 4

M Bail c T Pantling b Sizer 8

C Disney not out 2

S Matthews not out 1

Extras 24

Total (8 wkts) 249

THE seconds travelled the short distance to Huntspill and District, and came away with a five-wicket defeat.

After being put into bat, Uphill got off to a good start with an opening stand of 70 from Steve Worrall (34) and Mark Hodder (53). After both were out, only Tom Oultram (18) and skipper Andy Llewellyn (49) got to double figures as Uphill finished on 180-8.

The Huntspill innings got off to a slow start with Andy Leech (1-22) claiming an early wicket and with some dubious umpiring decisions, Huntspill raced along to 101-2.

The introduction of Matt Kearsey (3-45) and Miro Surendran (1-34) got Uphill back into the game. Some late big hitting from the Huntspill middle order resulted in them reaching their target in the 44th over.

Autosmart man of the match was Mark Hodder.