CAVALIERS batted then bowled themselves out of trouble and into second place on the ladder when they defeated Townview CNW by 56 runs in the Bell and Moir Toyota Mount Isa Cricket A-Grade competition at the weekend.

Cavaliers leg-spinner Liam Faithful walked away with figures of 6-33 after his side had earlier dug themselves out of a hole to post 8-227.

Batting first, Cavaliers were in trouble at 4-45 in the 10th over until Corey Martin (46) and Jason Naylor (38) resurrected the innings with a 63-run stand.

Openers Justin Peterson (6) and Eli Jamieson (10) fell to the bowling of Dash Coetzee (2-30 off eight overs) and Billy Bailey 2-46 off six overs).

Martin watched as Corey Barram (4) and Jason Wellington (3) came and went before Naylor decided to stick around.

The pair showed composure to work the ball around and put the loose balls away.

When Martin fell just short of his 50, the Cavaliers had a measure of respectability.

Naylor was joined out in the middle by captain Clayton Smith (52) and continued to swell the total. Naylor eventually fell when the score was on 137 off the bowling of Dale Roberts.

Faithful (25) showed maturity to put on 60-runs for the seventh wicket frustrating the Townview CNW bowlers who could only watch as the scoreboard ticked over.

When Smith finally fell in the final over of the innings, Cavaliers had recovered to post 8-227.

Needing a solid start from openers Gavin Maher (34) and Dash Coetzee (13), Townview CNW reached 44 before Coetzee was out LBW to Shane McCarthy (1-33 off eight overs). Coetzee who had been looking good played across the line and umpire Terry Williams had no hesitation.

An injury to Maher slowed the normally free flowing stroke player down but he and Bailey (10) were grafting away until a tough caught behind decision went against Bailey. Sounding like pad, a disappointed Bailey was given out caught behind.

A steady stream of wickets appeared to put paid to a Townview CNW challenge.