IT was third time lucky for Marlborough as they gained a final ball victory over Gloucester City.

Their previous two games against Hatherley and Reddings and Hinton Charterhouse had resulted in final over defeats.

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.

Norris was second out after he had found the boundary seven times in an innings of 33.

Hendy Alleyne was next out after making 20, followed by Peter Day with 28.

George Fox was out for 37 after playing 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 nine 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 one four and four huge sixes. With 19 extras the final score was 225-7.

Gloucester City made a good fight of getting the target, but Fox bowled a good spell of 13 overs, picking up 2-46.

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.

Hendy Alleyne then made it one of his best games since returning to the club with 4-58 from his 13 overs.

He picked up the wickets of the dangerous Steadman, who had made 50, and Withers, who made 38. Nathan Morgan and Ajay Kumar finished off the overs, Kumar picking up three wickets, the final one from the last ball of the innings.

Gloucester City had kept up with the required run rate and by the last ball the last pair required four to tie.

Bennett decided on the aerial route in a do-or-die bid, and was caught by Fox close to the mid-off boundary.