Captain Will Banwell crowned an excellent Gotherington performance by taking a stunning catch as his side defeated The Royal Household by three wickets in a thriller.

As their name might suggest, The Royal Household are Her Majesty’s cricket team and their home ground is in the rather splendid surroundings of Windsor Castle.

This year the friendly fixture, which has now become an annual event, was played in Gotherington.

“They only play two or three blazer games a season,” said long-serving Gotherington opening batsman Rob Sharp. “One of them is against The Pope’s XI at The Vatican and another is against us so we’re in exalted company.”

And the village club certainly treated their guests royally, putting up a marquee and providing food and drink featuring local Gloucestershire produce and ales.

That hospitality didn’t extend to on the pitch, however, as Gotherington made it two wins in a row against their celebrated opponents.

After Gotherington’s away win last season Sharp admitted: “We enjoyed another competitive game this year played in the right spirit and the series is well poised at 2-2 now.

“Their opening bowler played for Marlow 1st XI last week and I think I laid a bat on two of his first 24 deliveries. It was excellent new bowl bowling, They were wasted on me!”

Gotherington were chasing a total of 90 all out and after reaching 38 for one slumped to 69 for seven before Harry Sharp – Rob’s oldest son – hit three fours and a six to steer his side home.

And what about Will Banwell’s catch?

“It was fantastic,” enthused Sharp senior. “It wouldn’t have looked out of place in a Test match. He dived full length on the boundary right in front of the marquee, it certainly brought the crowd to their feet!”