Cross hurries to hundred

4:28pm Friday 30th June 2006

WINSLEY: A BLISTERING unbeaten century from Robbie Cross was the highlight for Winsley, who remain rooted to the foot of the Bristol and North Somerset table after an eight wicket defeat at promotion-chasing Shirehampton.

Cross plundered nine sixes and eight fours in his brutal innings of 101 as Winsley set their hosts a challenging target of 220. But the villagers struggled with the ball after tea and the Shirehampton batsmen took full advantage to secure victory in the penultimate over.

Winsley captain Andy Ellett said Cross, who scored 75 of his runs in the last seven overs of the Winsley innings, did not deserve to be on the losing side. He said: "I thought Robbie batted absolutely superbly. He just went mad towards the end it was a brutal knock.

"We knew we had to post a fairly big total because Shirehampton is a high-scoring ground with a quick outfield. "But once again our bowling was not tight enough. We needed to bowl full and straight but we gave them too many four-balls."

Batting first, Winsley lost two quick wickets before Ellett (35) and Zimbabwe skipper Terrence Duffin (55) shared a century stand for the third wicket. When Ellett and Duffin departed in successive overs, Cross arrived at the crease and started his relentless assault against the fading Shirehampton attack.

Winsley closed on 219-8 after 50 overs and were quietly confident of a second victory of the season. But some poor bowling and fielding proved costly as the villagers dropped the dangerous Martyn Bowyer, who went on to make 93.

Former Shirehampton skipper Matt Hill also played a controlled innings to guide his side to victory with an unbeaten 70. "We're getting more consistent now but we're stuck in this losing pattern," said Ellett. "Hopefully we can turn things around soon.