STILL without skipper Matt Truckle, Redlynch and Hale first XI pulled off a great win at Ellingham, winning by 106 runs.

The visitors chose to bat first and with the ball taking lumps out of the pitch early doors, Ian Tanner settled down after the early loss of Dave Webber.

Further success for Ellingham’s attack followed as the bowlers shared the spoils and at 30-3 the situation did not look good.

Jon Hatchett dug in for a valuable 19 but with Tanner steadily accruing his runs at the other end, his partners couldn’t seem to stay with him.

Kev Hopkins joined the party with a priceless 36 and cameo’s from Jack Vincent (19) and acting skipper James Taylor (18*) enabled Tanner to bring up a most deserved ton with a switch hit to the boundary. The opener carried his bat for an unbeaten 125 with 18 fours to set a formidable 270-7.

After the tea interval, Webber (1-21) quickly accounted for James Turner, but twin brother Alex moved to a classy 48, before falling to Taylor (2-21).

Acting home skipper Jim Edwards showed application in an unbeaten 40, but Hopkins (1-21) and Andy Soutar (1-11) made further inroads.

With the run rate increasing all the time, leggie Will Hewlett made full use of the pitch with his sometimes beguiling spin. The youngster returned 3-42 before Ellingham’s run chase was halted at 164 all out to give the visitors maximum points and a win that consolidates their County 2 league position.

Meanwhile, at Woodfalls Cross in Regional Div 1 (NW) the second XI experienced a rare cricketing event with a Tie.

Knights Valley notched 146 all out, with Jack Sobucinski (3-21) and Dom Sell (3-16) doing most of the damage, although D. Wright batted well with 55.

Then at 29-4 things looked precarious as P. Finlay (5-20) got his tail up.

However, a fine 64 from Jack Cobern put the hosts firmly back in control of their own destiny until another flurry of wickets.

With two runs to win and overs in hand, skipper Stan Boardman played a rash stroke which brought last man Sobucinski to the crease.

Archie Boardman then brought the scores level, before a bizarre mix up saw the former agonisingly run out with scores level.

At Hatchett Green Hale, the 3rd XI reached 171-8 before running out of overs with George Hayes unbeaten on 38. Earlier, Trojans 3rd’s had scored 192-6 with some big hitting from S. Williams (66) and Paul Allen (37).

Mick Wright (3-28) was the pick of the bowlers.