Cirencester Cricket Club > News > June 2003 > 1st XI fall short against Arcadians

1st XI fall short against Arcadians [Tuesday 3 June 2003]

Gloucestershire County Cricket League Division 2
Cirencester - 161/9
Arcadians- 164 all out
Arcadians won by 3 runs

Cirencester lost their second league game of the season by just 3 runs against Arcadians last Saturday at the Park. Arcadians, having won the toss, elected to bat, but were soon in trouble against some excellent opening bowling from young James Shackeleton and veteran John Turner.

They found themselves, by the 22nd over, in the precarious position of being 50 for 4. However, Cirencester were never able to exert enough pressure to push home their early advantage. With their number three, R. Smart scoring a solid 59, Arcadians, at one point were looking for a score in the region of 180. It was left to Jeffcott, ably assisted by some fine wicket keeping from Mark Clayton to restrict them to 164 with three final quick wickets.

In reply, Cirencester openers, Reynolds and Walker, made a slow but solid start putting on 45 for the first wicket, before the latter was out, caught and bowled. Dave Shackleton followed quickly and it was left to Reynolds, now joined by Jeffcott to try to set up a winning position. With the score at 84, Jeffcott was dismissed and Reynolds was then joined by Cooper.

It was then that the real impetus in the scoring rate began. Reynolds reached his well constructed 50 and with Cooper playing some aggressive shots put Cirencester into the box seat. Unfortunately as has recently happened in recent seasons, Cirencester then contrived to hand the initiative back to the opposition. Reynolds was run out for 55, going for a third run and was all too quickly followed by Cooper for an excellent 41.

The rest of the Cirencester batting was unable to exact the required control needed to steer them to an elusive victory.