Paultons (181 all out) beat Sparsholt (139 for 9) by 42 runs A CONSISTENT batting performance saw Paultons to victory in Sunday's rearranged Village Cup tie against Sparsholt.

Paultons chalked up 181 all out in their 40 overs, Touqeer Iqbal (29) and Tony Richman (28) the pick of their batting.

Ian Ellis took four wickets for 26 and got good support in the bowling department from Andy Birkett (2-27) and Tim Vokes (2-34).

When Sparsholt batted Bill Gunyon became the only half-centurion of the match, making exactly 50.

But his team-mates had no answer to paceman Pete Lamb, whose six wickets for 45 proved crucial in keeping Sparsholt below the required rate.

The draw for the group semi-final to be played this Sunday (June 4) has pitted Paultons against Easton & Martyr Worthy - the same opponents they play on Saturday in the Southern Electric Premier League!

Lamb in the wickets again Peter Lamb celebrated a third successive four-wicket haul as Paultons sprang a SEPL Division 3 surprise on Saturday, beating United Services by 105 runs at Whitemoor Lane.

Lamb took 4 for 43 as US were bundled out for 85 after Paultons had posted a healthy 190 for 7. He clean bowled opening pair Mark Toogood and Andy Galliers before trapping middle-order pair Mike Hennessy and Dan Grant lbw.

Spinner Andy Denney claimed the prize scalp of Zimbabwe's Charles Coventry (22), who top scored in an otherwise dismal US batting display.

Andy Darnton (39), Colin James (25) and John Robinson (20) had had Paultons nicely placed at 68 for 1. After three wickets by Paul Barsby (3-33), Touqeer Iqbal's timely half-century lifted the hosts to a winning 190 for 7.