GOATACRE bounced back from heavy defeat to Taunton Deane in impressive style on Saturday as their bowling unit performed miracles to defend a meagre total of 142 against Thornbury.

Having been, in the words of captain Brad Dawson, “hammered” by Taunton last time out, only three players made it into double figures and the visitors’ Richard Trotman returned figures of 4-9 in six overs.

However, courtesy of three wickets for Giorgio Rigali, four for Hampshire star Liam Dawson and economical bowling from Craig Gibbens, Thornbury ended on 126-6.

Goatacre opener Ed Wilkins, who hit 52 from 77 balls, said: “It was tough going because the pitch was pretty wet and pretty slow so it wasn’t easy to score on.

“It was a case of trying to stick in there and take as much time as you could and accumulate runs,” he said.

“To get to 50 in a small total was pretty good but obviously we had to bowl well because the pitch dried out a bit after tea and the bowlers did well to defend that.”

It was a weekend of double joy for Goatacre, as they glided through their National Village Knockout Cup second round tie against Dorset’s Shroton by eight wickets.

Gibbens recorded figures of 4-17 and Chris Watchman took 3-19 as Shroton were dismissed for 114, before Jack Haines smashed 77 from 58 balls, including three maximums, to send last year’s semi-finalists Goatacre into the third round.

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