Northleach took a weakened side to Central Hall for this CDCA Div 3 match, and it showed as they never put enough runs on the 'board and suffered their first defeat of the season.

Asked to bat first on a dry track the Rams began to attack from the start, with Adam Tarrant (36) scoring freely as the total reached 50 off just 8 overs. The home bowlers maintained a tight line and length throughout and a flurry of wickets meant that Dickie Hemming (53) and Dan Binding (20no), batting at 7 and 8 respectively, had to work extremely hard to build a score. The total of 167 never looked enough on a fast outfield, and so it proved, with Darren Hall being the pick of the Rams' bowlers with an outstanding spell of 4 for 35.  The Central Hall batsmen struggled to assert any control over the bowling, particularly when the pace was taken off the ball, but several missed catches and numerous fielding errors gifted too many runs, and it was Yaki Hassan who saw the home side to a close but deserved victory by just 1 wicket.

A disappointing day for Northleach, who now travel to Slaughters Utd next weekend seeking a return to form.