AUSTRALIAN Brad Ryder made a remarkable league debut for Newent, finishing with fantastic figures of 9-4 as Fairford were skittled for only 10 in surely one of the shortest Gloucestershire County League matches on record.
The club’s first ever overseas signing ran through the Fairford line-up with only a wicket mid innings by Jack Devries at the other end denying the left-arm seamer the chance of all ten in this Division Two match.
The hosts, who lost the toss, were dismissed in 10.3 overs – Ryder hitting the stumps seven times and claiming two lbws – while Newent then needed only eight balls to complete a ten-wicket triumph.
Newent captain Jack Cowles said: “It was a good toss to win! I’ve been playing 20 years and have never seen anything like it.
“From ball one, Brad was really making it seam and swing. We’ve gone for an overseas for the first time as we want to try and get out of this division, and adding Brad will hopefully give us an edge … it’s a good start but there’s a long way to go!”
Andy Green was another bowler to shine in Division Two with a return of 6-9 from 6.3 overs for Redmarley who trumped Frampton-on-Severn by 77 runs.
Frampton’s Jason Huxstep had earlier claimed 6-25 from seven, including the wicket of top scorer Craig Stow (70) as Redmarley battled their way to a total of 176.
The bowlers did not have things all their own way with George Bailey composing 102 off 117 (12 fours, one six) for Hawkesbury Upton who saw off Kingsholm by 101 runs in Division One.
And in Division Seven, Andy Barnard’s 94 – plus 78 from opener Matt Curtis – proved to be in vain for Painswick 3rds who suffered a five-wicket reverse away to Hatherley & Reddings 3rds for whom Shital Wadkar thumped an unbeaten 68 from 44, including the winning four off the ball of the match!
Luke Ward, meanwhile, grabbed 5-20 from eight as Poulton 2nds folded from 79-3 to 116 all out, paving the way for Aston Ingham 2nds to complete a seven-wicket success.
In Division Four, Mason Poole hit the stumps five times en route to figures of 5-17 from eight as Chipping Sodbury 2nds rallied for an eight-run home success over Woodmancote.
And Tom Horrell captured 5-30 from 7.3 overs for Tetbury who kicked off their Division Three campaign with a 96-run home triumph against Ullenwood Bharat, Ben Evans earlier hitting 59.
Rockhampton, meanwhile, made a strong start to life back in Division One following last summer’s relegation from WEPL with an eight-wicket pounding of Apperley.
Ruben Pieterse made an instant impact with a return of 4-8 from nine as Apperley were rushed out for just 50.