Paultons Cricket Club overcomes snow storm and Overton to progress in Voneus Village Cup

PAULTONS Cricket Club made heavy work of their Voneus Village Cup Preliminary Round tie against Overton before securing a two-wicket win at a chilly Whitemoor Lane.

Overton made a steady start with openers Stefan Cox (18) and Toby Deacon (14) scoring 47 against some tight bowling from Chris Dunn (0-10) and Josh Metcalfe (1-13).

After a short snow storm-induced stoppage, Paultons gained the upper hand by introducing left-arm spinner Andy Denney (5-28), who initiated an Overton collapse from 78-3 to 100 all out.

Paultons also made a slow start in their chase, and they lost Cameron Grierson early on. However, a 32-run partnership between Jacob Lee and 16-year-old wicketkeeper Ben Rogers got them back on track. Andy Galvin (3-20) came into the attack to leave Paultons wavering on 44-4.

Rogers recruited valuable partners in Lee Wateridge and Peter Lamb to put Paultons in the ascendancy. However, when the teenager was bowled by Barlow (2-18) for 43, the hosts looked uncertain at 87-7.

When Barlow then bowled Archie Dunn for a duck (93-8), Overton sensed a cup upset, but Lamb (16*) and Chris Dunn calmed nerves and saw Paultons home by two wickets.

Paultons will now host Oakley in the next round at Whitemoor Lane on 25th April.