Retiring club stalwart Carey Elswood helped Cleeve CC win by a thumping 203 runs at Clevedon Thirds last Saturday.

Cleeve stand in captain Ellis Turner elected to bat first. Carey Elswood opened the batting with son Cam, who holed out for 11 at 13-1. Charlie Grubb departed for eight as Dan Dixon joined Elwood to add another 145 runs before Elswood fell for 73.

Dixon perished bowled two runs later for 64 at 188-4. Josh Geal was run out for three as Alex Soch ended on 51 off just 34 balls and Robbie Wilsher 26 from 16 as Cleeve posted 271-5 at tea.

In reply, John Hance (5-1-9) struck first, bowling Chris Bennet for three at 20-1 as Cam Elswood (5-2-29) added two wickets, bowled and via a Dixon catch. Luke Care was run out by Elswood as Freddie Basnett (4-1-8) dismissed John Vanstone for a top score of 15 via a Hance catch.

Stuart Williams managed 1-3 as Turner proved too much for the lower order as he quickly grabbed five wickets to include a fine stumping, as Clevedon were bowled out at the start of the 20th over for just 68.

The victory leaves Cleeve in six place in Division 10. The day, however, was for Elswood. His Cleeve career provided 4,785 runs, including 30 half centuries, two centuries at an average of 29.18 and 18 wickets.