MARLBOROUGH finally learnt how to win a game in the last over.

The previous two games against Hatherley and Reddings and Hinton Charterhouse resulted in defeats but this Saturday, Gloucester City were defeated off the last ball of the game.

Marlborough won the toss and elected to bat first. Openers Tom Norris and skipper Navid Ahmad put on 33 before the skipper was caught out for 12. Tom was second out after he had found the boundary seven times in an innings of 33. He is clearly in a rich vein of form at the moment. Hendy Alleyne was next out after making a good looking 20. At the moment he looks as though he needs a 50 to really kick start his season. I suspect it is not far away.

Peter Day continues to make good scores this week with 28. He is in very good form at the moment and again you feel a big score is just around the corner. George Fox continues to amaze everyone with another fine batting display.

This week he was out for 37 but played some glorious shots along the way. Ajay Kumar put last week's disappointment behind him with a fighting 28.

Richard Turnell, playing with an injury, but nevertheless required due to late cry-offs, made 9 before he was out. The game was turned in favour of Marlborough by Nathan Morgan who hit an 18 ball 35 not out which included 1 four and 4 huge 6's. In the end he was well supported by Jonathan Maslin with 3 not out. With 19 extras the final score was 225 for 7.

Gloucester City made a good fight of getting the target of 226 to win. They know their wicket well and the majority of the team paced themselves well. George Fox bowled a very good spell of 13 overs picking up 2 for 46.

Turnell's injury allowed him just one over and so the bowling line-up had to be adjusted. Peter Mathias picked up a wicket in his second over thanks to a catch by Turnell but then found the South African batsmen found his bowling encouraging and was taken off after five overs.

Hendy Alleyne then made it one of his best games since returning to the Club with 4 for 58 from his 13 overs. Amongst this he picked up the very dangerous Steadman who had made 50 and Withers the South African who made 38. Nathan Morgan and Ajay Kumar finished off the overs.

Nathan picked up three wickets, the final one from the last ball of the innings. Gloucester had kept up with the required run rate and by the last ball; the last pair required 4 to tie and 6 to win. Bennett the batsman decided on the airial route and was caught by George Fox close to the mid off boundary.

The home team were all out for 221 and considerable relief to the Marlborough Club who will be hoping this result kick starts their season.