CASTROL continue to find life tough in the Meller Braggins League as they slumped to a third successive defeat, bowled out for just 74 at home to Norbury after the visitors posted 115.

Captain Mark Evans said: 'Experienced batsmen are making basic and elementary mistakes. Shot selection and even running between the wickets is now a concern and we are paying the ultimate price. We haven't become a poor team or individuals overnight. We need to stay positive however frustrated we feel and we will be a better team for this experience.'

Evans won the toss and put the visitors into bat, with MoM Richard Morrisey (3-27) making an immediate impact by taking Smith (0) via a Darren Green catch.

Hodge (25) and Twibell (4) then recovered the score to 38 before Walters (3-28) had the latter caught lbw.

Two balls later, he ripped through R Lomas' (0) defences and sent the middle stick cart-wheeling backward, and then he took the dangerous Hodge with Hutchinson completing the catch. Flanagan (2-13) then sent S Lomas (0) packing with a beauty of a delivery, again sending the stumps in all directions.

Norbury skipper Deplitch (45) staged a single-handed counterattack and while C Twibell (9) stuck around for a long time, the reintroduction of Morrisey saw Benbow take the catch behind to dismiss him.

Morrisey took Deplitch with Evans completing the catch, and Castrol then went on the defensive.

Flanagan accounted for Downs (5) with Garratt taking the catch, while Caulfield (2-14) mopped up the tail as Norbury were all out for 115.

In reply, Benbow (0) played a gentle in-swinger from Barlow (2-23) and was castled. Flanagan (9), who looked like he meant business, had played a couple of trademark strokes to the boundary before a mix-up with his skipper saw him run out.

Evans (14) was then bowled by Codd (2-27) while Hutchinson (1) and King (2) were a little unlucky, with the keeper taking a good low catch off the bottom edge to dismiss the former and the latter was trapped lbw.

Green (23) once again found himself trying to consolidate the innings with Garvey (21).

First to go was Green, first victim of Smith (4-12), while Caulfield (0) gifted a catch back to the bowler.

Garratt (2) was caught behind and Morrisey (0) succumbed to Lomas (1-13).

Walters (2no) and Garvey played some sensible cricket to add 18 before the latter holed out, giving Smith his fourth wicket, and Castrol were all out for a paltry 74.

Castrol took 5pts, Norbury 21.