EVEN a fighting, gutsy, determined captain’s innings of 59 not out from Ian Tanner was not enough to save a below-par Redlynch & Hale in the County 2 clash with Easton and Martyr Worthy.

Tanner carried his bat from the first ball as teammates came and went, with no one else seemingly able to stick around for long enough to put meaningful partnerships together.

Earlier in the day, the bowlers had done their job, removing the visitors for what looked a gettable 195. Kev Hopkins (3-38) and James Taylor (3-41) reaped the rewards with a brace apiece for Stan Boardman and Dave Webber, as wickets fell steadily through the innings.

John Sparks (35), Dean Griffin (34) and Adam Carrick (32) all performed well, with useful contributions down the order, setting a target of 196 to take the points.

Then came the run chase, but with only Webber and gloveman Jack Vincent reaching double figures, the job became harder and harder.

To cap a miserable afternoon, Boardman was controversially run out, but no real excuses for this “bad day at the office” as the innings spluttered and went out for 147 – which were well short of the line. Joel Green with 3-27 was the best of the visitors’ attack.

The club’s second team, meanwhile, were dismissed for just 99 at neighbours Bramshaw.

It was a game in which Rich Whitmarsh top scored with 27.

B. Loveless was the main protagonist, returning 4-26. Despite an impressive 4-6 runs from Jack Cobern and four catches at the wicket from James Benson, Bramshaw got there with two wickets and 12 overs in hand.

The thirds set Shrewton III 189 to win with Ian Dixon (47), Tom Bayford (35) and Mick Wright (32). Two early wickets for George Hayes (2-32) gave hope, but an unbeaten stand of 155 from Danny Gray (64) and Sean McClure (74) took their side home.