Horsford beat Godmanchester by 176 runs GODMANCHESTER visited league newcomers Horsford on Saturday – only to be blown away by the batting of Zimbabwe Test and Essex county player Grant Flower. Horsford won the toss and elected to bat but lost the wicket

Horsford beat Godmanchester by 176 runs

GODMANCHESTER visited league newcomers Horsford on Saturday - only to be blown away by the batting of Zimbabwe Test and Essex county player Grant Flower.

Horsford won the toss and elected to bat but lost the wicket of M Goodrham to Paul Wilkinson for two early on.

Despite the boost this gave to the Godmanchester bowlers, however, the arrival of Flower at the crease saw him build a partnership of 61 before the wicket of J Rice fell to captain Bevis Moynan.

South African batsman Thyssen then hit 53 runs off just 67 balls before he was caught out by E Baldwin off David McCallum.

As the Godmanchester bowlers tired in the heat, Flower continued to smash the ball around on his way to making a massive 166 not out.

A 30 from C Brown extended the Horsford total as they completed their 66 overs on 306 for six.

McCallum was Godmanchester's most successful bowler, with three for 73 from 14 overs with one maiden.

Missing top-batsmen Nathan Pearce and Matt Pateman, Godmanchester were always going to struggle to make the total, and so it proved.

Alex Mutucumarana started well but went for 19 after being caught out.

Ollie Huggins then went for 19 and Paul Swannell for seven as Godmanchester started to fold.

Matt Davies-Binge put on a creditable 42 to boost the total, but he lost five partners before being caught out to end Godmanchester's hopes of a draw.

Chris Brown was the best Horsford bowler with figures of six for 31 off 16 overs with four maidens.

With just three losing bonus points from the weekend, Godmanchester are two places from the bottom of the table.