A GUTSY run chase from City of Ely came up agonisingly short as they lost out by 32 runs to Thriplow in their opening match of the new season. Having been set an eminently gettable 208 for victory, Ely set about their task with vigour, but came up fractio

A GUTSY run chase from City of Ely came up agonisingly short as they lost out by 32 runs to Thriplow in their opening match of the new season.

Having been set an eminently gettable 208 for victory, Ely set about their task with vigour, but came up fractionally short in the end as some experienced bowling from the visitors kept scoring to a minimum.

Despite the loss however, Ely took eights point from the match and occupy sixth place in the CCA Division 2 table ahead of their clash at Shelford on Saturday.

The match itself started promisingly for Ely as, asked to bowl first, they took to their task with gusto, restricting a nervous Thirplow batting line-up to fleeting singles.

Mark Deas made the breakthrough for the home side with less than five overs gone, bowling the Thirplow opener who had become frustrated at a lack of scoring opportunities.

Ely continued to flourish thereafter and Deas, alongside Benjamin Storey (2-31) ensured scoring was kept to a minimum in the opening 20 overs.

A brief break for drinks heralded a resurgence for Thirplow however, and they upped the pace in the second half of their innings, scoring runs freely as they finished up on 207-8 from their 45 overs. N Hailstone was the pick of the bowlers for Ely, picking up 3-65.

Ely started well in response to their five-an-over chase with ever-green opener Bruce King weighing in with a measured 76 not out as his top order partners continued to fall by the wayside.

A useful knock of 40 from Ed Aniskowicz had Ely in with an outside chance of victory as they closed in on their target, but Ed's dismissal late on all but quashed any hopes of victory as the home side closed on 175-7.

Ely's Mark Deas who bowled exceptionally to restrict the visitors early on. 6227HD Photo: HELEN DRAKE