SHILLINGSTONE 179-8 (20pts) beat SYMENE SPORTS 160 (8pts) by 19 runs

SYMENE Sports suffered a 19-run defeat in their first completed County Division Three game of the new season.

This was a game that got away from Symene, who missed several opportunities to press home an advantage but failed to do so.

Shill’s openers Nick Marshall (39) and Chris Cole (11) established a solid opening stand of 49; the innings then subsided to 95-5 thanks to accurate pace bowling from Bradley Wilkinson (3-30), Brady Gunning (2-21) and Ben Strong (1-28).

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Ian Paulley survived several close shaves to muster the top score of 47, but with Leo Gurd standing in for regular gloveman Phil Hawkins, the resultant extras count of 47 gave the hosts the opportunity to lengthen their innings and propel the target to an above-par 179-8.

In reply, several Symene batters made a decent start but could not capitalise with a match-shaping contribution.

Wes Lewis (31), Hawkins (26) and Sam Good (20) made decent starts but with Gurd, Wilkinson and the dangerous Harry Angel, deceived into a caught and bowled, contributing 10 runs from the middle order, Shill seemed to be romping to victory with Symene at 124-8.

However, a defiant rearguard action from Ben Strong (15) and Jack Bartlett (12) held up the hosts to take the match into the 38th over to help secure maximum batting points in defeat.

SYMENE SPORTS II 144-8 (6pts) lost to BUCKHORN WESTON 305-6 (19 pts) by 161 runs

SYMENE Sports Seconds fell to a heavier 161-run defeat in Division Six West, betraying their lack of outdoors action to slump to a heavy defeat to Buckhorn Weston.

However, skipper David Hart saw enough encouraging signs from his team which bodes well for the season ahead.

Buckhorn openers Daniel Taylor (66) and Chris Gossett (22) were both bowled by the wily finger spinner Graham Bartlett but they still set up the innings perfectly for number three Josh White, who survived two early dropped catches to make a classy 139, forming the basis of the imposing total.

All the Symene youngsters stuck to their guns despite the onslaught, with Orran Maudsley’s full eight-over quota return of 4-47 particularly noteworthy given the short boundary.

In reply, youngsters Seb Gawen (13), Sam Hart (19) made decent starts with Lucas Richards top scoring with an excellent 29.

Despite the formidable batting target being a near-unattainable 309, the Symene batters never let that become too daunting.

Six players registered double figures and settled instead to maximise precious time in the middle and kept Buckhorn in the field until the 37th over.

Symene main sponsor: Richard Drake Construction