A FIRST league double of the season was the outcome for Marlborough on Saturday in an entertaining win over a spirited Gloucester City side.

The key to Marlborough's 237 for 5 was a resounding 148 run 4th wicket partnership in the last 21 of the allotted 45 overs by Richard Turnell (71) and Frank Whiting (79).

Coming together at 86 for 3 after a second successive good knock by veteran Hendy Alleyne of 47, the stage was set for good strokeplay, allied with intelligent running and powerful hitting. The pair provided exactly that in an enthralling 90 minutes for those watching.

Turnell played the cultured innings with strokeplay of authority and grace, whilst the tough hitting Whiting showed how hard he is to bowl at with blistering blows all round the park.

Gloucester were well and truly blitzed after initial good bowling by the tidy opener Baker ( 2 for 41 off 13 overs), in a tricky start for the Marlborough top order.

But the pacing of the innings was perfect ultimately and this together with the form of the Turnell/Whiting combination produced Marlborough's highest league score of the season on a wicket where 200 is normally a sufficient score to defend.

Marlborough opened the attack knowing that they were missing the services of recent star performer George Fox, out of reckoning for the game with a touch of Delhi Belly!

The young duo of Nathan Morgan and Tom Wallbridge took centre stage, but although they bowled some good deliveries, occasional waywardness allowed the visitors to get to 55 for 1 off only 11 overs.

Captain Navid Ahmad turned to Turnell to apply the brakes and this he provided immediately.

With Ben Head at the other end also bowling well, Gloucester faltered and Head and Turnell soon both made breakthroughs. Turnell's short spell of 5 overs, 2 for 14 was just the tonic as Vinay Sharma came into the attack to double up the off-spin attack with Ben Head at the other end (13 overs, 2 maidens, 2 for 55).

The pair in tandem were at times outstanding as more breakthroughs came to leave the visitors at 150-6.

A solid batting line up down the order made Marlborough think as Gloucester went for their shots to take them up to 200 with 11 an over required, but with only two wickets in hand. Ultimately, Sharma wrapped things up to take his first five wicket haul for the club (5-58) but only after a fright from a belligerent but good natured opposition to leave 212 all out.

Good fielding, particularly by debutant Nathan Williams certainly must not be overlooked in this 25 run victory that boosts Marlborough as they travel to Wootton Bassett this weekend.