FOSSILS defeated touring team Red Bats by eight runs after being put into bat on an unpredictable wicket.

Geoff Southall departed in the eighth over with the score on just eight and runs were always hard to come by as hard-hitting Keith Middleton (28) found out.

Barry Briscoe made 20 but it took him 25 overs. It was not until Derek Ebbage (26) and Bill Wood (16no) scampered between the wickets that runs flowed for the Fossils.

The last wicket fell with the score on 131. Charles Miller took 4-14 from seven overs for Red Bats.

The tourists' openers Ron Gommer (29) and Charlie Biggs (19) put on 39 before the first wicket fell. John Banner's left-arm spin claimed 3-37 from 10 good overs.

Ian Muir scored a fine 33 and Red Bats looked like cruising to victory on 106-5.

But skipper John Reynolds took four wickets for 10 runs in three overs to lead his team to an unexpected eight-run success.