Cricket: Gr-eight triumph for classy Charlton Down

A CONVINCING seven-wicket victory maintained Charlton Down's unbeaten start to the season and recorded their eighth straight win.

The man of the match award went to Javed Gill who returned excellent bowling figures of 5-24 off 8.2 overs.

Including the vital wickets of Henry Lockwood (66) and Will Gage (24).

Sturminster Marshall elected to bat but were soon in trouble as Dan Stevens (1-23) bowled the dangerous Paul Maitland in his first over and then a double strike by brother Matt Stevens (2-34) in the next over left them reeling on17-3.

Henry Lockwood and captain Will Gage batted with aggression and after only 16 overs were 83-3 and looked set on posting a good total. However, it was Gill who struck three times to remove the free scoring Gage for a quickfire 24 collapsing to 95-7.

Turning to spin Kim Park (2-37) struck twice to leave the score on 112-8.

It was fitting that Javed Gill cleaned up the Marshall tail to finish on 5-24 and bowl them out for 123.

Charlton Down batted 13 overs before tea and it was Jack Eveleigh and Jae Miller who guided the score to 49-0.

After tea, and the score on 66 it was Jae Miller (41) who spooned a easy catch to mid-on and then Jack Eveleigh was then well caught by Lewis Beals for 18 to leave the score on 71-2.

Both Eveleigh and Miller had batted so well on a difficult wicket.

It was Nick Voss (34) and Roger Frapwell (15) who batted well to take the score to within four runs of victory and Voss was caught trying to hit the glory ball for the winning runs.

Sam Roles stroked the ball to the boundary in the very next over to bring the convincing seven-wicket victory.

Charlton captain Tommy Tucker said: "Golden arm”, Javed Gill produced his best bowling of the season with his five-wicket haul, and so well deserved but once again the Stevens brothers nipped out both openers to put Marshall on the back foot.

"It was nice to see Jae Miller back to his best and Jack Eveleigh dealing with a difficult wicket.”