Washout ruins cricket calendar
Rain frustrates as Bath and Lansdown chase down titles
Saturday’s rain washed out much of the local cricket calendar, with only a handful of fixtures completed in the West of england premier League. In the top flight, Bath’s secondversus-third contest with Downend was washed out 33 overs into the Swords’ innings. By that point they had limped to 150-6, opening batsman Greg Hay finishing a run short of a half-century. Paul Muchall also tallied 29 but once his wicket fell, there was no time for another batsman to stride to the middle and join Luke Padgett, unbeaten on 23. Premier 1 leaders Clevedon also saw their game abandoned, with Bath gaining a point, but still sitting 34 shy with three games to go. ■ premier 2 Bristol & Somerset division leaders Lansdown were dismissed for 188 by local rivals Keynsham, who were unable to begin their run chase when the rain hit. Tom Bryan stunned Lansdown with figures of 6-56, aided by Reg Keates’ 3-33. Ben Clarke claimed the spare wicket. For Lansdown, opener Jordan Smith and No7 batsman Jordan Price top scored with 34 each, with only Daniel Henly (28) and tailender Matt Thomas (20) exiting the teens. With Ilminster’s game also abandoned, Lansdown earned enough bonus points to extend their advantage atop the table to 20 points, still owning a game in hand over Ilminster, who have two matches to try and catch the Combe Park club. ■ In the Gloucestershire & Wiltshrie division, Corsham had held Rockhampton to 185-7 when their abandonment came between innings. Had it not been for an unbeaten 88 from Rowan Cartlidge, Corsham might have even got the chance to bat, as he held up the bowlers when all others failed. Spinner Joe King ended with figures of 3-34, while Jonathan Parker took 2-29. Tom Smith and Martin Roberts were also among the wickets. ■ BRISTOL & north Som There was time enough for Bath’s 2nd XI to rack up 276-4 courtesy of two centurions. Alain Hewitt lasted only five balls, but fellow opener Charlie Brain and No3 Jack Scrivens then put on a 186-run partnership for the second wicket. Brain ended up the leading scorer on 113 not out, Scrivens fin- ished just behind on 104 off the bowling of Iraq Thomas. ■ WILTS division Unfortunate Marshfield were left with only the bonus points to celebrate from their fine bowling display against Purton. They had skittled their rivals out for just 109 - the bulk of that down to Elijah Samuel’s 46. The wickets were shared around, though Tom Clist was the only man to claim three, conceding just 32 runs. There were braces for Lachlan Tyler, Thomas Lamb and Sam Jukes, with Jeremy Bond taking the odd wicket mid-innings. Before they could return after tea, however, the elements dashed Marshfield’s hopes of a quick chase. Meanwhile, the Corsham 2nd XI had overcome a rocky start to reach 153-5 ahead of their 35-over abandonment. Their top three could combine for only 14 runs, but next man in Will Wales set a platform with a solid 43. Sam Mitchell was also dismissed for 27, with the rain arriving while Mark Hick (30no) and Jon Bedbrook (15no) were preparing to push the total to 200 and beyond. ■ bear flat For the second time in three weeks the weather put paid to most of the action in Division 1 of the Wiltshire League, with the Bears’ match at Swindon falling victim to the weather just after the tea interval. The abandonment, with the home side left on 19-0 chasing the Bears’ 170-9, resulted in 11 priceless points for Mark Gunning’s charges as the Saturday XI continue their fight against relegation. Earlier in the day Gunning had won the toss and decided to bat on a good pitch and lightning fast outfield; however after a solid start from the skipper (21) and Pete Wood, it was a case of same story, different week, with the Bears losing wickets with alarming regularity to slump to 77-7, despite Jack Mainwaring’s combative 18. That the visitors managed to reach 170 from their 45 overs was in no small measure down to Simon Cox, the veteran all rounder valiantly shepherding the tail with valuable assistance from George Ellis (15), the returning Paul Wood (18) and son Ollie (6no). But it was the club captain’s assured 61 from 70 balls that was the undoubted highlight of the Bear Flat total; an innings containing nine boundaries and featuring a newly found fondness for the on side from a player formerly renowned for booming cover drives. In response, Swindon had advanced to 19 without incident before the persistent drizzle intensified further, leaving the umpires with no choice but to bring the game to an early conclusion some 45 minutes later. Next week the Bears face relega- tion rivals Nationwide House at The Glasshouse in a fixture that may well decide who survives and who falls through the trapdoor into Division 2. ■ Timsbury Rain forced the abandonment of Timsbury’s visit to Bristol West Indians Phoenix in the Bristol & District League Senior Division, but the ten points they collected keeps them right in contention in the promotion race with other results going their way. The home side got off to a flying start with Timsbury showing a lack of intensity in the field. Raj Chudasama (43) and Nick Davis (39) put on 62 for the first wicket but the introduction of Kev Sibley into the attack changed things dramatically as his opening spell of 3-17 in seven overs saw Phoenix decline to 94-5. Sam Baber led a recovery with a well constructed innings of 39 before being run out, and when the rain came after 37 overs the home side had progressed to 188-8. Neil Hucker aided Sibley with figures of 3-44 before the weather had the final say. It was a similar story for the club’s 2nd and 3rd XIS. The seconds may have been grateful for the inclement weather after being bowled out for 136 at home to Carsons & Mangotsfield; only four players got into double figures with Rob Clothier (23), captain Ben Hosford (21) and Sol Thompson (20) the main contributors. The thirds saw their game away to Midsomer Norton thirds curtailed with the home side on 143-6. Ben Bicknell (51) and Graham Poulton (47) laid the foundation for the Norton total with Matt Ball bringing Timsbury back into the game with a spell of 4-14 from six overs. This week Timsbury are at home to Coalpit Heath, the seconds visit their Almondsbury counterparts and the thirds are at home to Bristol West Indians Phoenix thirds. ■ hampset All three of the Scorpions’ Saturday matches were abandoned due to rain, as well as Sunday’s game needing to be cancelled. The ten player 3rd XI were put in to the field by Chipping Sodbury 4ths ahead of the forecast rain. Hampset once more performed well in the field and did well in obtaining nine wickets for 131 runs from the 35 overs of play possible, before the rains came and the match was abandoned. Terry Sandys topped the bowling figures with 4-26, as Shaun Wyatt collected 2-16 and Daniel Watling 2-18 in creditable performances. Andy Fletcher garnered four victims as wicketkeeper, entertainingly, and Mark Griffiths took a fine leaping catch to the astonishment of his colleagues. Hampset remain in third place in their division, vying for a promotion place with two matches left of the season.