CORSE and Staunton CC produced a disciplined all-round display to claim a 35-run victory over Stroud in the West of England Premier Cricket League Gloucestershire division on Saturday, May 9.

After losing the toss and being asked to bat first at Stroud Cricket Club, Corse and Staunton built the foundations for success through an excellent opening partnership between Edward Goolden and James Dallaway.

The pair put on 118 for the first wicket and frustrated the home attack for much of the opening half of the innings. Goolden struck five boundaries in a composed 47 from 72 balls before he was trapped lbw by Innes Pierce, while Dallaway continued to anchor the innings after reaching his half-century from 67 deliveries.

Dallaway’s 57 included five fours and a six and came at an important stage after Corse and Staunton had reached 100 inside 20 overs. Matthew Cox added 16, while contributions through the middle order kept the scoreboard moving despite Stroud taking wickets at regular intervals.

Matt Brown made 19 from 39 balls and Callum King finished unbeaten on 21 from 24 deliveries, helping the visitors close on 222 all out from their 50 overs. Extras also proved useful, with Stroud conceding 26 in total.

Pierce was the pick of the home bowlers with 3-44 from his 10 overs, while Alex Garland returned impressive figures of 4-28 from nine overs to slow Corse and Staunton’s progress late in the innings.

In reply, Stroud never fully recovered from losing Ronnie Newbery for 14 with the score on 43. Lewis Culver attempted to hold the innings together with a patient 31 from 75 balls, but wickets continued to fall at key moments as Corse and Staunton tightened their grip on the contest.

Callum King removed Liam Smith for five before Matt Brown struck twice in quick succession to dismiss Luke Benneyworth and Angus Gegg lbw. Stroud slipped from 91-3 to 110-6 and suddenly faced an uphill battle to remain in the chase.

A seventh-wicket stand between Nimesh Ilukwatte and Garland briefly threatened to shift momentum back towards the hosts. Ilukwatte made 28 and Garland added 30 as the pair shared a valuable partnership worth 59 runs.

However, Dallaway capped an excellent individual performance by taking 3-10 from just 2.2 overs to end Stroud’s resistance. He removed Garland, Joe Stevens and Ilukwatte as the innings quickly unravelled.

Corse and Staunton’s fielding also proved decisive. Matthew Cox was involved in two run-outs, including the important wicket of Culver, while Goolden claimed two catches and later ran out Dajanan Yoganathan to seal victory.

Stroud were eventually dismissed for 187 in 47.2 overs, securing Corse and Staunton a deserved win and the full 20 points from an impressive away performance.

Corse and Staunton’s bowlers shared the workload effectively, with six different players used across the innings, while the visitors also kept their composure despite Stroud receiving 37 extras.

The result continues an encouraging start to the campaign for Corse and Staunton, whose top-order partnership between Goolden and Dallaway ultimately proved the difference between the sides. Their century opening stand gave the visitors momentum that Stroud were unable to recover from during the chase throughout.

After two matches and two victories, Corse and Staunton sit joint top of the WEPL Gloucestershire table alongside Bourton Vale CC.