GOATACRE Lane saw a barrage of boundaries as the hosts and Thornbury amassed almost 700 runs between them in their Premier Two clash.

Goatacre eventually fell 32 runs shy of their guests’ huge total of 365-6 on a belting wicket, as several batsmen got themselves in but could not go on to make the same sort of impact made by Thornbury captain Richard Trotman, who smacked 11 sixes in his 80-ball, unbeaten 118.

Ed Wilkins and Toby Horton both passed 50 for the Goats, while Jack Haines smashed a typically rapid 43 from 12 balls early in the innings, but the home side were bowled out for 333 with 10 balls remaining of their allotted 50 overs.

Looking back on the encounter, Wilkins was quite philosophical. He said: “The pitch was too good and when the pitch is that good at our place, with the small boundaries, it’s an absolute batsman’s dream. It was a bad toss to lose.

“Jack got us off to a good start as usual. We were 44-0 after two overs and I hadn’t faced a ball but he then got out, which actually was a bit unlucky because it should have been a no ball. I said to the umpire before it was bowled that this was going to be a no ball because they had three outside the circle, but they didn’t call it.

“We were well above the rate after 15 overs but to keep going at that rate for 35 or 40 overs is a bit of a struggle.

“We know on our ground every run can count. You’ve just got to keep going, keep your head up even if the ball is flying everywhere for six. The bowlers didn’t bowl particularly badly, it was just one of those days. We dropped a couple of catches, not easy ones but ones you’d want to take.

“We didn’t stand much of a chance really.”