NOT even a battling unbeaten half century from 18 year old Andrew Reynolds, his first league 50 for the club, could prevent a third successive Gloucestershire County League Division one defeat for Cirencester on Saturday as visitors Cam edged home by 20 runs.

Coming in at 65-6, with the Town chasing a target of 171 to win, Reynolds batted with great skill and composure.

Despite suffering a nasty blow to the face, he launched a sterling rearguard action that almost turned the tide Cirencester's way in the closing overs.

He was eventually left stranded on 53 not out and Cam claimed the final wickets with 13 balls remaining. His innings was the major saving grace in another erratic performance by the Town, whose fielding and early battling once again lacked real resolve and commitment.

They began well enough, Graham Clark, fit again after a leg injury, claiming a wicket in his second over.

But a crucial dropped catch in the next over from John Turner gave opener Booth a fortunate life and he took full advantage, producing some powerful shots in a second wicket stand of 81 with Cotterell that gave Cam a vital platform for their innings.

The introduction of spinners Gee Singh and Dick Tugwell soon paid dividends as Cam slumped from 88 for one to 90 for four and when Tugwell trapped Booth leg before for 71 out of 104-5 a collapse looked on the cards.

That prospect looked more likely as two more wickets fell cheaply, but then two more catches were spurned allowing Mears to accumulate a valuable unbeaten 31 and Cam were allowed to advance the total to 170 before Turner returned to take the last two wickets and the innings closed in the 42nd over.

When Cirencester replied after tea Dave Durston hit 10 in the second over before playing on and two more quick wickets put Cam back in control with Atkinson bowling a right line and length.

Tugwell held the innings together for some time, but when he was sixth out with the total on 65 the Town looked doomed to convincing defeat until Reynolds came in to launch the fightback despite the loss of two more wickets.

With solid support from Dan Hudson and then Singh, Reynolds struck the ball clearly on both sides of the wicket including three four and a fine six and with 29 required from the last four overs hopes of an unlikely victory began to arise only to be dashed with the total on 150 when Singh miscued a simple catching chance.

Cam 170 all out: D Booth 71, R Mears 31no, A Cottrell 23, G Singh 4-36, R Tugwell 3-32, J Turner 2-40. Cirencester 150 all out. A Reynolds 53no, R Tugwell 16, G Singh 13.