JACK Cowles scored 85 for Newent at Shurdington in Division Three of the Gloucestershire County League – but his side came up short by just five runs.

The Forest side won the toss and elected to field at Shurdington’s SCG ground.

Newent made early progress when Cowles ran out Shurdington’s skipper Lee Baldwin for three.

But a big partnership followed with Tom Knight hitting 95 and Archie Yearp making 43.

Yearp was caught by Paddy Thompson off the bowling of Josh Hayes and Freddie Fabian beat Knight’s defence.

Hayes picked up another two wickets, bowling George Berry and Dan Rackley for 12 and 10 respectively.

Fabian also took another two wickets with Jack Styman going to a catch by Thompson for 17 and bowling Dylan Johnstone for a single.

Ben Allard picked off the other three batsmen, bowling Chris Waite for eight and Clive Thornton for a duck.

Thompson took his third catch of the afternoon to dismiss Keith Wright for eight.

Allard finished with 3-7 off 7.3 overs, Fabian 3-41 from seven and Hayes 3-56 off eight.

Shurdington were dismissed for 254 from 38.3 overs.

Cowles and Thompson scored 163 between them.

Cowles was caught by Styman of the bowling of Berry for 85 and Thompson was caught and bowled by Thornton for 78.

There was also a useful contribution of 25 from Wayne Phillips who was caught and bowled by Styman.

Despite having wickets in hand, Newent fell just short, finishing on 249-6.

In Division 9B of the county league, Newent’s second side, the Lions, went down by five wickets to Corse & Staunton’s Thirds.

The Lions won the toss and elected to bat.

They were dismissed for 171 in 37.3 of their 40 overs.

Corse made 175 in 30.3 overs for the loss of five wickets.