Cricket: Disappointed Trowbridge captain Peter Hickerton criticised his bowlers after a poor display on Saturday and says they deserved their poor bowling figures.

Cheltenham, who boast Gloucestershire’s Jackson Thompson in their line-up, smashed 225 from just 38 overs including 23 fours and three sixes.

Hickerton says while the hosts were talented, it is hard to gauge just how good they were because of the wayward balls served up by his attack.

“Apart from Toby Dorgan we just didn’t bowl in the right areas and suffered because of it,” he said.

“I can’t even say it was a consistent poor line or poor length – it was just all over the place.

“We bowled one bad ball every over, sometimes two, and you can’t afford to do that at this level of cricket. If you do then you deserve to go all around the park.

“It’s tough to say if their batters were good because of our performance. We’ll have to wait to see them again when they come to our ground.”

Cheltenham opener Rhys Miller (85) and Thompson (69) put on 117 for the second wicket and helped take the game away from Trowbridge. While Dorgan impressed with 3-36 from 11 overs, the rest of the attack were hit for at least five runs an over.

In reply, the visitors quickly fell from 41-0 to 54-4. Luke Morris performed well by finishing unbeaten on 40 but Hickerton admits he gave up on winning early in their innings.

“We struggled and lost too many wickets early on,” he said. “They bowled a really good line to us, however.

“With ten overs to go we re-assessed and decided as it’s unlikely we’ll win then the best thing to do was make sure we get as many bonus points as we can, which we did.”

Trowbridge host Bristol West Indians on Saturday.