MARTINSTOWN SECONDS 140 (5pts) lost to CHARLTON DOWN (20pts) 141-5 by 5 wickets

CHARLTON Down took another step towards promotion from Division Five with the Voss brothers, Luke and Nick, seeing them over the line at Martinstown.

The hosts won the toss and batted first on a very hot afternoon, Ollie Osborne and John Stewart demonstrating good technique to put on 28.

But Rich Fagence (2-30) struck twice in quick succession, removing Stewart for seven and Colin Crosswaite for nine.

Osborne’s (17) hour-long resistance was finally ended with a great diving catch by Jae Miller at silly mid-on off Sam Roles.

At 68-3, Mark Woodward and Rich Nichols decided the best form of defence was attack and they soon had the scoreboard moving with some hefty blows to the boundary.

However, the introduction of visiting captain Pete Tucker soon changed the complex of the game – he took two wickets in two balls, including that of the dangerous Wood-ward for 22.

Nick Voss (2-14) removed Nichols (23), caught at mid-off by Miller, and then clean bowled Morrissey for 11.

When James Pretty (1-12) trapped John Pickering leg before Martinstown had collapsed from 95-3 to 116-8.

Debutant John Pochribniak bowled Tony Jacobs with a lovely leg break and it was Roles who picked up the final wicket.

Charlton Down’s reply started brightly, 26 coming from the first three overs, but Pickering snared Miller with the score on 26.

Roles punished some wayward bowling but was well caught by Morrissey for 24.

Javed Gill and Luke Voss added another 40 runs before Gill chopped the ball on to his stumps and then Crosswaithe bowled Stevens to leave the visitors on 94-4.

It was left to the Voss brothers to knock the ball around the ground and take Charlton Down to victory in the 24th over.

Luke Voss deservedly brought up his 50 with an elegant cover drive to the boundary and remained unbeaten on 59 in his hour-and-a-half stay at the crease.

Tucker said: “It was great to see both sides fielding over half their teams with young talent and giving them a chance to perform.

“Ollie Osborne and John Stewart were the standout young talent for Martinstown and Luke and Nick Voss, Matt Stevens and Sam Roles for Charlton Down.

“On a very hot day I was impressed by the pressure the bowlers put on each batsman, backed up by some great fielding. Some positive batting made us able to chase down the target with reasonable ease.

“We will be looking to secure two more victories from the remaining four games to secure promotion.”